My daughter has her heart set on a pair of socks I started years ago,
my first – and still unfinished! – pair of knitted socks.
I’m going to need lots of butt-kicking to stick with these monsters!
In the past week, I almost evened out the cuffs on the two socks.
Each sock gets a ball of blue yarn, and half the other ball.
My daughter has her heart set on a pair of socks I started years ago,
my first – and still unfinished! – pair of knitted socks.
I’m going to need lots of butt-kicking to stick with these monsters!
In the past week, I almost evened out the cuffs on the two socks.
Each sock gets a ball of blue yarn, and half the other ball.
These things are all so complicated, aren’t they?
Posted in Me Me Me
Without further ado, photos taken this afternoon at Cheesecakes by Alex in Greensboro.
The occasion was the birthday of Ms. Laura Lough, a/k/a Painty.
The birthday girl herself!
Laura and Chris
I love this one! Alli and “the Peanut”
Your humble photographer
MissViolet!
The birthday girl’s mother!
Kelly!
Kelly, Chris, and Laura deep in discussion (about cheesecake probably.)
More pictures!
Posted in Me Me Me
Without further ado, photos taken this afternoon at Cheesecakes by Alex in Greensboro.
The occasion was the birthday of Ms. Laura Lough, a/k/a Painty.
The birthday girl herself!
Laura and Chris
I love this one! Alli and “the Peanut”
Your humble photographer
MissViolet!
The birthday girl’s mother!
Kelly!
Kelly, Chris, and Laura deep in discussion (about cheesecake probably.)
More pictures!
Posted in Me Me Me
I’m in suspense, wondering if the Colinette Parisienne Tapis yarn delivered to
Knitted Gems is the right yarn for her baby shawl!
It feels like awhile since I wrote anything here. It’s interesting (to me) that sometimes I just have to set down an idea in writing, but other times weeks go by between posts.
Look what arrived today!!
The second package from my Official Spoiler in the Ravelry
Recession Special Swap!
Whoever sent this is so thoughtful, and has obviously scoped out what I like.
First, look at all the patterns!
I’m definitely trying this one!
More!
And, a lovely journal, soothing aloe footies, and tea!
Thank you so much!
I am wondering how long it takes people to knit a pair of socks.
Of course, many variables affect sock-knitting speed, including –
Weight of the yarn
Needle size
Complexity of pattern
Length of sock
Experience and skill of the knitter
Still, I bet that many/most/lots of knitted socks are knit in fingering weight yarn, on needles between sizes 0 and 3.
The other variables, well, I guess they vary.
I also notice there are a boatload of sock knitting clubs
that send new sock yarn every month.
Are sock club knitters really ready for more sock yarn and another sock pattern each month, or do they have immense stashes of sock yarn?
I’m betting on the big stash theory, because sock yarn is irresistible.
Even I have a big basket of sock yarn, and I haven’t knit any socks!
Last night I dreamed that I started knitting socks for everyone in my family for Christmas, and that I was finishing about a sock an hour – truly just a dream. But, it got me wondering …..
At the beginning of the year, I lined up my Unfinished Objects and made a Master Plan.
I decided that during 2009 every WIP must be
Finished, Frogged, or Flung (into the void).
Time to check in on the plan.
Finished:
1. Scarf for my father – Finished!
2. Ribbon bag – just needs to be put together, which is actually probably where it was a year ago.
Frogged, Flung, or otherwise Disposed Of:
1. Lace scarf – I sent the yarn, the book, and the swatch to Nora.
2. Scarf for Lydia – Flung! It was just too stupid, so I’ve started a new one and gave the stupid yarn to the thrift shop.
3. Baby Sweater: I gave the pieces to Laura/Painty to do with as she wants.
Hibernating:
1. Afghans for Afghans I like this one, but it’s still not done.
2. Socks ‘O Doom for Nora.
3. Cardigan for me – lost interest.
4. Ribbed wool scarf – I like it, but don’t know anyone who wants it.
5. Entrelac scarf – lost interest.
New UFO’s:
1. Secret Knitting Project for Recession Swap.
This one is coming along fine, pictures to follow!
2. Replacement scarf for Lydia.
Started this yesterday, it’ll be a snap.
3. Secret Garden Shawl.
Best project of the year!
4. Todos Scarf.
The project was fun & I hope to finish it soonl.
Other FOs:
1. Silk scarf for my sister-in-law
2. Various bookmarks, etc.
3. Bright wool scarf.
4. Swatches of gossamer yarn.
Planned Projects:
1. Enchanted Woods Shawl.
2. Stacy shawl.
3. Prettier socks for Nora.
Still plugging away on the Secret Garden Shawl,
and it’s time for a few new photos!
I’ve had two job interviews this week. Both went well, as far as I could tell, and I’d be very happy to accept an offer from either one. Keep those fingers crossed!
Posted in Me Me Me
What does your alarm play when you wake up?
I have mine set to play this song, from the Outro Lado CD by Zuco 103:
Humana Video
Posted in Me Me Me
The next Recession Swap Question is:
“What is your favorite Cool Weather Recipe?”
I think my favorite is beef stew:
First, heat oil in cast iron pan,
then brown Stew beef, cut into small chunks.
Put the meat aside for a little bit.
Next, add a little more oil, heat it, then add
Onion: one is usually enough, cut up.
Garlic: cloves minced up, however many you like.
Spices: salt, pepper, bay leaf, basil, cloves, peppercorns.
Cook this until the onion is translucent.
Add
Browned stew beef,
Beef broth,
Some tomatoes, tomato paste, or tomato sauce,
Red wine.
Cook this for awhile and then add:
couple of cut up potatoes,
lots of cut up mushrooms,
whatever other vegetables you’d like to add.
You can adjust the thickness with
more/less broth, and/or
barley or some other thing that can cook in the broth.
Have fun!
Posted in Me Me Me
Nora is on the cover of this week’s Seattle Stranger.
I am assured that this is a relatively “tame” cover,
and that the Stranger is a Big Deal in Seattle.
Still, it gave me a start.
Dear world, and especially,
Dear friends, relatives, long-lost schoolmates who contacted me via FaceBook or Classmates.com, co-workers, online knitting pals, swap buddies, my husband and children, President Obama, charities who keep mailing donation requests, and people whose knitting gifts I started years ago and haven’t finished,
I apologize for everything.
I’m sorry for not getting as much done as usual, for being tired,
achy, gloomy, irritable, and for losing perspective.
I’m sorry for speaking/writing before I think,
for not wanting advice, for bailing out on commitments and plans,
for not doing my part to bring about meaningful health care reform.
I regret not responding to your overtures via social networks,
for not getting back in touch. I’m sorry for ignoring phone calls,
for not finding a new job, for sleeping so much, for snapping at
people and picking fights, for acting like the biggest thing in my
whole life is the year-long medical treatment I’m undergoing,
with its stupid side effects.
I’m sick of feeling vaguely like I need to apologize to everyone.
My head hurts, I’m anemic, my muscles ache, I don’t even know
if this treatment will succeed, the medication causes fatigue and
depression, the economy sucks, I don’t want to find a new
job but I have to anyway, and it all just seems like Too Much.
I realize that I’m not holding up my end of the bargain,
and I’m sorry.
I will return to normal in about a year.
In the meantime, please accept my apology,
and please cut me a break.
Thanks.
Why do swap questions always have to be variants on
the childhood standby – ”
Would you rather go up in the air in an airplane,
or down in the sea in a submarine?”
or the knitting equivalent – “What’s your favorite fiber and why?”
We’re all adults.
I think we would all be civil if we occasionally considered
questions of more significance, or questions that, if not political,
are at least about something different.
I’d love to read answers to questions like –
What are your thoughts & opinions about health care systems,
health care reform, and/or the systems used in specific nations?
What book, movie, TV show, or magazine is your secret guilty pleasure?
Should Roman Polanski / Michael Jackson’s doctor / George W. Bush
be prosecuted or should we just let it go?
In what situations is it okay to let cats go outdoors?
Honestly, I can never work up much interest in reading a long list
of answers to questions like “What is your favorite finished object?”
I’m more interested in the knitting habits of people
whom I also know something else about.
I realize this is a grumpy point of view.
Also,
I DON’T NEED OR WANT IT POINTED OUT THANK YOU
that there are good reasons to keep swap questions non-controversial.
It’s just my own grouchy opinion.
These questions seem dumb and babyish to me.
Please accept my apology in advance for being cranky.
And I do know that people who volunteer time to swaps
are nice, kind, hard-working, etc.
Signing Off,
Your mood-impaired blogger.
Question Number Two is something about are we attending
any fiber festivals and why or why not?
I might go to the Southeast Animal Fiber Festival in Asheville.
I’m not going to any others because it costs too much.
Also?
I’m in a bad mood today.
(if you couldn’t tell!)
I’m looking for Joe Biden.
Has anyone seen him since the election?
I mean, besides that one time when he drank a beer
in the Rose Garden with those other guys?
If you see him, ask him to contact me, ‘k?
Posted in The Outside World, The Porch Swing
I’m looking for Joe Biden.
Has anyone seen him since the election?
I mean, besides that one time when he drank a beer
in the Rose Garden with those other guys?
If you see him, ask him to contact me, ‘k?
Posted in The Outside World, The Porch Swing
I have a lot of sock yarn.
A LOT.
I have sock yarn in stripes, in shades, in solid colors.
I have Gradience sock yarn, small skeins whose colors evolve and change.
I have soft sock yarn and scratchy sock yarn.
Sock yarn I bought because the profits were for a worthy cause.
Sock yarn that captivated me while on vacation.
Sock yarn I received as a gift.
Sock yarn I bought as a gift but couldn’t part with.
Expensive sock yarn made from unusual fibers.
Cheaper sock yarn made from basic Model A sheep’s wool.
I own no fewer than ten books of instruction
about how to knit socks.
I have, in addition to all the patterns in all those books,
dozens of patterns that I’ve downloaded, printed, and
placed behind the “Socks” tab in a binder.
What I don’t have is a single pair of hand-knit socks!
I’ve never even worn a pair of hand-knit socks.
I do have one pair of half-knit socks,
that I started about two years ago, for my daughter.
What’s up with this??
I’m going to define “winning the lottery” as
“suddenly coming into enough money to do whatever I want”
because, as long as this is a fantasy, why not think big?
First, okay, I’d do all the boring stuff,
pay off all our debts, pay the debts of my nearest and dearest,
and invest enough of the lottery winnings to live on.
Next, a private jet, because I’ll be traveling and
public airports are no fun.
I’d also buy a little real estate, such as –
1. A victorian house next to the Panhandle park in San Francisco.
2. A charming old cottage about an hour inland from the Riviera.
3. I’d also buy 45 acres right here and build a comfortable,
(but not fancy) house with lots of porches.
Then, I’d start Doing Good. Lots of Good!
I arrived home yesterday to find my first Recession Swap package
from a mysterious and wonderful, spoiler.
It’s all perfect – absolutely stunning yarn, sheep-shaped soap, a handmade birthday card, sheep-motif tissues, and a little notepad.
Just look!
Tagged Recession Swap
I’m looking for a cardigan pattern that:
1. Has a rounded, not vee-neck, neckline, but
2. But doesn’t have a neckline too high or tight.
3. Has conventional, not raglan, sleeves.
4. Is knit in pieces and then sewn.
5. Has a little ribbing at cuffs and bottom edge.
6. Has some bit of interest – lace, cables, a pattern.
7. Does not have bobbles, nups, or other big bumps.
8. Is neither cropped nor down to my butt.
9. Has sleeves that are not super-tight, but
10. Does not have big, floppy bell sleeves.
11. Is pretty.
12. Is knit in fingering, DK, or worsted yarn, but
13. Is not knit in chunky yarn.
This search started with my wish to knit a sweater from this:
Look! It’s a Unique Sheep colorway and it’s named after me!
But, now I wonder if Luxe yarn
is too fine for a sweater, as fingering weight sweaters
I find are either for babies or lacy summer things. Hmmnnnn
Nominees:
Georgie by Sarah Dallas:
Photo found on Ravelry
Hi! I’ve added a link Knit Picky because they seem like such a nice place! I’m going there this Saturday for a Class on Fair Isle techniques. I’ll report back after the class!
Tagged Knit Picky
Many Happy Returns 
