PinkPurlGrrl

Revel in the simple sock

Aaaaahhhh.  I am floating in satisfaction at the completion of this lovely sock.  It was fun to knit, I liked taking knitting breaks to smoosh the leg of the sock between my fingers and feel how springy it is.  I have marveled at the subtle color shifts in the flat stockinette sole.  I carefully worked the decreases keeping the stitches tight and strong.  I have more of an attachment to this sock than I do to any of its predecessors.  It's love, pure and simple.  This was the most satisfying sock I have ever knit.  Upon finishing it last night I immediately cast on for its mate.  These socks will have luck and love woven through their very fabric.  This is no less than the creation of magic footwear.  The keyboard picture is a better representation of their color.  The mossy rock picture is a testament to my love of the sock - I had to move extra fast to have enough time to photograph and download this picture; the sock deserved no less.

What I meant was...

I've been bored at work, just not enough to do - you know how it goes sometimes.  I mentioned to my boss, and my other boss that I could use a little more work. 

They. Found. Work. (lordy did they ever)

I started a little KAL to keep me entertained and support my need to compulsively knit socks.  I put it out to the universe that I would like more company in my KAL.

Company came :)

I commented to BLING that we have nothing planned for the next several weekends.

I want to know who bugged the freeking house?

I'm happy, I'm busy, I have lots of sock knitting to do.  And that's why you don't get a picture today.  More later when I make a list and feel a little more organized.  Peace out.

It's all about the socks

The Circus Striped socks are finished.  I think I have a problem because I wore them three days in a row (I did wash them each night).  The sun was present for the whole weekend and I just needed to pair it with bright socks.

I knew I was running down the home stretch and would need to have "new" socks to cast on.  Payday was Friday, seemed like a good time to go to the yarn store!  Earlier in the week I had gone to Village Yarn and Tea (where they are always nice to me, it's like going to see friends there) and I had picked up three skeins of Lorna's Laces in Cranberry.  Lucky me, VY&T is currently hosting the "Knitting Vintage Socks" trunk show.  They had examples of each of the socks from my new favorite book.  It was a real treat to fondle the socks, seeing them in person adds a whole new dimension to their beauty (no pun intended) and I found myself considering patterns from that book that I had relegated to someday instead of must-knit-now. 

I had decided to knit the Cranberry LL into the Gentleman's Shooting Socks pattern.  I cast on for them as soon as I had finished the Circus Stripes socks, but my gauge was off and I knew I needed to go down to a size 0 needle (yes, like it said in the pattern).  I didn't have size 0's, and had to put off the socks until Friday (all this was Wednesday).  On Friday I went to Acorn Street at lunch and picked up a pair of size 0 circular needles, and found two skeins of LL in Brick - a much more BLING-ish color (forgot to say these are for her...I'm a little scattered today, no?). So I added 5 skeins of LL sock yarn and two Addis to my knittage last week.  It will be beans and toast for dinner this week.

The new yarn needed a new pattern.  After much consultation with dear BLING we decided on the Gentleman's Fancy Sock.  It is really quite perfect for this yarn, the Brick yarn looks like terra-cotta bricks in this pattern.  I did shorten the length of the sock, and I omitted the calf shaping - and changed the heel.  OK, I'm changing the toe too, but I think it still holds true to the original look of the sock.

I am having a blast knitting on these socks, but of course the next pair has already been planned.

This post is coming late in the day for me, but it's been too busy around here to post.  Personally that is a good thing as I've had too much down time to feel like a productive member of society.  That aside there has been plenty of time for knitting.  Last night I finished a pair of toe-up socks on circular needles.  I didn't take a picture of the finished pair, but just look at that beautiful heel.  This may be the best heel ever.  It is by nature a short-row heel, but with a heel flap look.  Very curvy, very sexy.  They feel good, I mean right now, on my feet as I type feel good.  Also included for your pleasure today is a picture of an odd little Dulaan hat, part Cloud Hat and part double knit.  It's what you do when you run out of mohair and have completed little more than a glorified head band.  I don't think small Mongolian children are holding their breath for a panta, so a hat it is to be.  I'll post a picture when it's done and you can tell me if it still looks like a confused duck.

If you have a moment, check out Kim's sock.

Weekend Knitting

Melinda's Dulaan Knit-In was a lot of fun.  We had beautiful sunny weather, a cheerful space, great food, and fantastic company.  Melinda is charming and bright, and makes a damn fine meaty chili.  Ryan was in good form and brought a wild cheesecake where flavors changed every two pieces.  I met Nancy and  Dorothy for the first time and really enjoyed them both.  A great deal of knitting was accomplished.  Melinda worked on her (nearly completed) Cloud Sweater (like the hat, but a sweater).  Ryan worked on the end of her most recent Dulaan sweater, as did Dorothy.  Nancy started a cloud hat and I think she also finished one, but I was staring intently at the seaming of a Brioche Rib hat.  I scavenged some donated yarn and am 1/3 way through a second cloud hat.  I'll run out of mohair before I'm done and will have to pick up some more (pity).  I would post pictures of us knitting away (and will if I can scam some from Ryan), but the batteries from the DVD remote are in the cordless keyboard, the batteries from the TV Remote (not the ones from the Universal Remote, those are sacred) are in the Game Boy Color, and the batteries in the camera are dead.  I think I captured the experience pretty well in these pictures.

Why knit for Dulaan?  Today, the first day of Spring, it is -6 Celsius (21 degrees F) in at the Lotus Children's Center in Ulan Bator. (Photo of Dulaan knitting recipients from Ryan's blog)

Of Bread and Felonies

Aren't you glad it is Friday?  I am really ready for the weekend; I want to play.  This past week was full of work and training, big decisions about school, and big decisions about the future.  Every day has been an obstacle course of decisions, actions, review and progress.  I have assembled my transcripts and prepared to meet with an adviser about returning to school.  BLING  has been refining her resume in preparation for applying for a new position.  In between all the excitement there has been the daily dramas of pet care (Oly is much cleaner now), birthday parties (Happy Birthday Shirley!), and cooking with the new range.

It all came to a crashing head when BLING outed herself as a felon.

You see, she's held her job for several years.  She worked in her department as a student and just naturally flowed there after graduation.  Now there is an opportunity for growth and she is bravely stepping up to the plate.  Naturally, this situation has her nerves a little jangled and well, she kinda freaked out.

We finished her resume and had it pasted into the correct window.  All of her personal information was filled out correctly.  She clicked "apply now" and submitted her application.  She was shaking a little bit, but looked positively exultant - she was going for it!  A little window popped up asking if she had ever committed a felony against children, seniors, puppies, or mail fraud, extortion, bio-terrorism, deviant sexual improprieties, grape eating in a grocery store, or surfing the web on company time.

Faster than my meager human eyes could follow the girl clicked yes* - screamed "No!" - then hit send, and immediately dissolved into a puddle of "OHMYGODWHATDIDIDO".  I giggled so hard I peed a little.  There was no clicking the back button or refreshing the page.  This is a cruel form and once submitted it's gone.  For ever and ever after BLING will be listed as the worst kind of felon (think Alice's Restaurant).  I'm sure "they" will be coming to take her away any minute now. 

Babe, there's a file in this bread.  I'll be coming to get you out.

*To the best of my knowledge BLING has never been convicted of any crime.

EDIT: BLING should be able to remedy this, it's not the end of the world, and I'm not a great big meanie.

Cant. Stop. Casting. On.

Is this a reaction to the Knitting Olympics, or am I just a flighty little bird?  I have a secret project, Pomatomus Socks, a Dulaan Hat, and Toe Up socks on the needles right now.  Seems like I should go buy more yarn, most of my stash is in use (BLING - bite your tongue).

I can't talk about the secret project yet, but it's growing near daily.

The Pomatomus socks are being patient while I play with circular needles.

The Dulaan hat is my commute, wait for BLING to get off work knitting.  It's going well but I was distracted by the School of Social Work building and knit waaaaaay past my decrease row and had to tink back about 60 stitches.  I made BLING pump gas and run two errands on the way home while I fixed it, so I'm mostly caught up.  I'd like to have it done or nearly done for the Knit-In on Sunday.

Today's picture is of the start of my first ever toe up sock.  I have enjoyed the pattern, but will seriously modify it in the future.  The best part is the heel shaping, it's very smooth.  I did make it to the top and cast off last night (94 kitchnered stitches BAY-BEE!).  I just didn't get a picture of it.  There is a little more about it over at Cirque du Socks if you are dying to see.

***Please note: at the top of the photo is a glimpse of BLING's pink breakfast food pyjama pants.  All together now "Awwwwww", she's such a girl.

Because you WANT to know

I bought some new sock yarn, and started a toe-up pair of socks on Friday.  Friday evening I knit on the socks.

Saturday morning our new range was delivered.  I spent an hour pouring over the instructions and precautions (do not operate in standing water).  I knit on the socks.

I planned activities designed to put the new member of our appliance family to the test.  We went to the restaurant supply store and the grocery store.  Then I knit on the socks some more.

I baked chocolate chip cookies from scratch for the first time in years.  In between batches I knit on the socks.

I baked English Muffin bread from scratch.  I knit on the socks while it rose, and while it baked.

I made Chinese BBQ pork ribs and green beans with soy/sesame sauce. After dinner I knit on the socks.

Sunday morning I meal planned for the week, picking out recipes from Cooking Light and BH&G.  I knit on the socks.

I made bread from scratch, while watching the Amazing Race, and knitting on the socks.

I went grocery and pet food shopping, then came back and knit on the socks.

I baked a 7 pound "Fire and Spice" ham, and knit on the socks.

In the evening we watched "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire".  I knit on the socks.

Tonight, after I start the laundry - and while BLING is washing up from Cubed Steaks Paprika and broiled Asparagus - I will cast off the first sock.

I think it was the best weekend ever.

Cirque du Socks

One, two, three...JUMP!  This is the official announcement for the first ever (will there be more?) Cirque du Socks Knitalong.  I am hosting this lovely party over here, come on in and make yourself comfortable.  I will take sign-ups for the KAL through the official start date of March 20th, but you are welcome to start knitting at any time.  The end of the KAL is April 30th at sundown (whenever sundown is for your location).  The "rules" are simple: sign up, knit socks in the round on one or more circular needles, keep us posted on your progress, finish by 4/30. 

Prizes abound for sock completers.  As of today I have hand-dyed sock yarn by Patti, a handsome skein of Opal, beaded stitch markers, and the promise of a special hand-made row marker from Rabbitch.  The lovely Linda K. has also volunteered a prize to be announced later.  Just like the lottery, you can't win if you don't play.

I have wanted to host a KAL for quite a while, and I'm really looking forward to this.  Everybody is welcome and encouraged to join, the more the merrier.  If you haven't knit socks on circular needles before Cat Bordhi has a great book on it.  You can also find clear instructions and photos of the technique here.  If you have knit socks with circs before, why not try something new?  I'm waffling between toe-up, two at once, or one of the patterns from Knitting Vintage Socks.

Not everybody loves a knitalong, and I would get bored if that's all I ever talked about.  This is why I set up the separate page for the KAL.  There will be news of the KAL on this blog, but it won't be All-Cirque du Socks-All-The-Time.

That should do it for today.  I've got to go buy more yarn.

Dulaan on my mind

Maybe it's the time I've spent with Ryan, maybe it's the monk I see walking at Sand Point, maybe it's the extra cold temperatures we've had recently - or maybe it's all of these things, but I've had my mind on Dulaan lately.  Sure I have socks on the sticks, and a secret project that's getting an hour of attention a day, but most of my time these last few weeks has been knitting and thinking about knitting for Dulaan.  So far it's hats.  I just finished the pink and purple lined hat (structural bones taken from Susan's Mag Knits pattern), and I'm working on a Cloud Hat with pink Cascade 220 and some beautiful mohair from James in New Zealand.  The green and purple Chullo was knit a while back for BLING, but is too small and very warm - so off it's going.  I'll probably keep up with the hats through the next knit in, then switch over to mittens or some-such.