Winged

While I'm waiting for my new needles to arrive I cast on something mindless...wingspan.  A few weeks ago I frogged my baktus scarf because I just didn't like it.  The Zauberball yarn wasn't really looking as good  as I thought it would so I ripped it. I didn't even get the chance to wash the kinks out of the yarn before I found something else to cast on.

As luck would have it I happened to see the pattern list for Ravelry...on that particular day wingspan was Number 2 out of 20.  One click later and another project was cast on using the zauberball.  The yarn is perfect with this pattern...the long color runs are being shown in all their glory.  My husband even made the comment 'that looks really pretty'...wow.  It appears that I've struck a homerun.

More Hooks and Needles

After yesterday's post about not having the right size needles it got me to thinking about how many needles are in the house.  I decided to spend the morning updating my needle inventory.   I thought that this task would be more fun than cleaning out the hall closet.  Thankfully Ravelry has a nifty chart that I have been trying to keep up to date.   Pulling out the various needle bags made me realize that I do in fact have more needles & hooks than I will ever have a need to use.

I'm not one to have more than a few projects going at a time...there was one Christmas that I had 10+ projects going, but that cured me.  It appears that I could have many times that under way based on the number of needles I have amassed.  It took a couple of hours and I managed to organize everything.  I even was able to recycle 15 hooks...do I really need 4 size J hooks?  Between Mom's collection and my own there were many duplicate sizes...I did keep a couple extras though.

For sentimental reasons  I could not get rid of some very old steel hooks from my Grandmother.  Hooks that I don't know if I'll ever use because they are so teeny tiny.  I assume they were her tatting hooks or maybe she used these when she added pretty lace borders to pillow cases.  I only remember Granny crocheting lots & lots of afghans.  Nice to have them in the collection as a remembrance of her and her skills as a crocheter.

Oh almost forgot...I ended up ordering 2 sets of US1 24 inch cables.  It's a sickness.

Never Enough vs Never the Right One

The question of using the proper tools frequently comes into play around my house.  It could be either one of us trying to justify adding another tool that would help make doing something easier, quicker, better or in a much rarer moment "just because" you want it.  I find myself in that predicament today.  I need a needle or more specifically needles.

If you know me you know that I have a rather large collection of needles.  I have fairly inexpensive ones...Clover, Bates, etc.   I also have a Boye NeedleMaster set that at the time I got it I thought I'd never need to buy another needle.  Foolish newbie!  I am  fortunate enough to have an expensive set of Addi Clicks which I love dearly and use for most of my knitting.  Of course I also have my Mom's vast assortment of needles which includes her own NeedleMaster set.  

I have an impressive collection of everything- straights, DPN, circular and interchangeable circulars.  Why then would I find it necessary to go on a hunt for more?  Well today I find that I don't have the "right needles" to do what I want to do for my March Sock.  I want to do the Kellswater pattern out of Interweave Knits Spring 2011...written as a toe up pattern using 2 circular needles.   After looking through all the various places I store my needles I found that I don't own two US1 24" circular needles.  I do have a single US1 48" circular, but not 2 and not the preferred length of 24".

Two yarn stores later I found one US1 24" circular at Holly Springs, but not two.  What should I do...change the March sock pattern or try using the 24" and my 48" circulars and see how long it takes to drive me over the edge?  I'm finding it hard to change the pattern choice...love the yarn and I was looking forward to trying the toe up/2 circs pattern which are both new to me.

I guess I'll check around for another needle since March 1st is still a few days away...don't ya just hate it when a plan doesn't come together?

Herringbone Rib Memorial Socks

Herringbone Pattern

The Herringbone Rib socks were knit to honor my Mom who passed away February 2011 from the disease ALS.  She loved to knit and the yarn I used was once her's...a gift from me a few years ago.  Mom didn't get the chance to knit her own pair of socks out of the Trekking so to honor her memory I chose it for these socks.  She was a very strong lady and I miss her.  Mom would love these socks...done in her favorite earth tone colors.

Heel stitches knit thru back loop

I finished...early even.  Last week I wasn't so sure I'd get both socks done before the end of the month.  The first sock ended up being a pain to get up over the heel.  My first time ever having a fit problem and that includes my very first sock.  I had followed the instructions for the smaller sock and it's a tight fit.  Real tight as you can see from a past post about the ordeal.  Once on it fits fine which is so strange...not tight at all.

For the second sock I decided to knit the larger version. Unfortunately, had I continued knitting it would have created a sock much too large for my foot.  I frogged back and recast the sock following the original instructions.  I figured the only other things left to try were to knit the sock more loosely or change the size of my needles.  My gauge was spot on in the stockinette portion so I tried knitting looser.  Since I knew I had tightened up the slip stitches on the first sock I tried to avoid that on the second sock.  Good news...the second sock goes on much easier over the heel.  The fit is fine, but the yarn is not the softest stuff on the market.

Leg patterns match

Heel flaps match

One happy coincidence is that without any effort or thought I ended up with two socks that match.  That has not happened without lots or planning, calculating and measuring...and with all that most times it's a wee bit off.

The first sock's problem persists and I may correct it, but I'm holding off until I've tried blocking.  Maybe that will 'fix' the tightness...can't hurt I suppose.  I've been told that "blocking fixes everything."  I don't happen to believe it, but it beats frogging.

Details:

Pattern:  Herringbone Rib Socks by Kristi Schuler. 

Yarn:  Trekking Pro Natura by Zitron, Fingering / 4 ply, 75% Wool, 25% Bamboo, Color:  earth tones, 459 yards / 100 gram.  I also used a small amount of Colinette Jitterbug's Velvet Leaves, Fingering / 4 ply, 100% Merino, 318 yards / 110 gram...for the cuffs and toes.
 

Needles:  Knitpicks Harmony, US 1, 4 DPN's

Gauge: 28 stitches and 44 rounds in 4 inches of stockinette stitch

March socks are up next.  I'm going to switch gears and knit a new pattern that was in the Spring issue of Interweave Knitting: Kellswater Socks by Sara Morris.  My first pair of toe up socks.  I'm going to try to use 2 circular needles which should be interesting.  I'm not sure about the yarn just yet...solid? semisolid?  Not sure.  I do know it won't be a variegated yarn since I want the cables to pop.  Stay tuned.

One Down...with a Twist

Uh oh...

Yeah me!  I finished the first Herringbone sock last night.  It's amazing what progress can be made when actual knitting occurs on a project.  Although the first sock is done...including all the ends woven & toe 'kitchenered'...it has a problem.  A rather important problem.  It does not fit on my foot...easily.

Oh I can get it on, but I must pull & tug the heel portion rather harshly.  Once it's pulled up over the heel the sock fits great.  For whatever reason this sock that claims "the bold ribs add stretch for a more forgiving fit" lies.  Simple as that...the fit is not forgiving at my ankle.  In fact I'm amazed I haven't pulled it apart given the amount of stress I've applied.

Man it's tight...

Up & over...

Fits fine...now

Stay tuned for the second sock.  I'm going to make a few changes to the second one and hopefully get one that will glide up & over my heel.

Second Sock, Second Month...Progress & Excuses

Herringbone Rib Sock

One word...slow.  My progress on the second sock of the great Self Imposed Sock Club 2012 is going along very slowly.  It seems to be taking way too long to finish the first sock.  Why you ask...

Me

My guess is that it would progress faster if I spent more time knitting on the sock.  I've been distracted a few times with some other endeavors.  Namely back to back weeks boarding in the West Virginia mountains at Snowshoe.  After spending a day out on the slopes my mind is uninterested in knitting.  Did I just say that?  Mmmm, it's true.  I took my knitting both weeks...the sock and a pattern for felted hearts...just no knitting occurred while in West Virginia.

I must say that if I had to choose knitting or spending time outside on my board...the board would win.  Why wouldn't it...check out the amazing view!

View from the top of Cupp Run

They say that there's a 'first time for everything' and it must be true because I always knit at night...I can no longer say 'always' anymore.  I best get knitting if there is any hope of a finished pair by the 29th.

Declutter 2012 Progress

I have been busy (more or less) sorting through closets & drawers.  The actual process of tossing stuff in varies bags, baskets and cans is not my idea of a fun time.  The end result always pleases me...really it does.  Though I must admit that I have to be in the "proper frame of mind" to get much done in removing the clutter from our living space.  I can make all kinds of excuses..."what if I need it" comes out of my mouth quite a bit while I'm in the midst of the pile of stuff.  What should go unmentioned is that some this 'junk' has been buried for so long that I forgot it's use to begin with...or I've moved on to other pursuits, but couldn't let it go.

Novelty Yarns...oh my!

Yesterday I decided that the craft shelves were due for a major sort & toss.  After I pulled it all out, sorted it into various piles and stood there looking at the entire collection I decided to TOSS.  IT.  ALL.  Well most of it...kept my stamps.  I did put a few 'stolen' tools back in their assigned spots and all the gift wrapping fluff was put away properly. 

Today the bag of novelty yarns headed off to more appreciative types and many useful items were donated to Goodwill.  My husband pointed out that "nature abhors a vacuum" so he's a bit worried about the emptiness of the area. 

Clutter free

I did recover six small bins and a large one...

Broken Three

Cooper & Mira

Last weekend a bad thing happened while knitting and it was all my fault.  As I finished up my Spot Check socks my dog, Cooper decided that he really had to bark...a lot.  When he's excited his bark is one of those double high pitch ones that will drive you nuts.  He was very excited to be playing with Mira who belongs to my eldest & his wife. 

He would not stop so I set my knitting down on the couch and leaned over to stop the barking...you know where this is headed right?  My hand landed right down on top of the knitting.  I didn't hear any more barking all I heard was CRACK.  I picked up the sock and examined the damage.  It did not look good.

Broken Rosewoods

These were my first set of Latern Moon Rosewood double points...loved them.  Unfortunately I no longer have five double points needles.  Nope, I have two intact needles...and 6 really small needles.  No way to repair the damage done to them unless I want 3 inch long needles. 

Lesson learned:  do not lay needles down and reach across to tap the dog