Red Ribs and Cables
These are my first pair of socks completed in about two months. I didn’t think I would be happy with a sock break, but it really helped! In fact, I’ve already started a new pair, this time for gift-giving later this year. Still in the works are the socks for my Hogwarts Sock Swap TWO pal; I must get back to those soon!
The pattern I used is from Sockamania Club KAL; it’s a nice combination of wide ribbing and cables. It was pure luck that these characteristics matched my sock pal’s preferences perfectly. These also qualify for the Socks in the Cities KAL. (I met the hostess, Sarah W, last weekend at The Yarnery, fun!)
This is actually my first time using cables in socks. I don’t think I did too badly. Since this cable is on a stockinette background, it doesn’t pop as much as it would on a purl background. I rather like this subtle effect, which fits the pattern name well.
In these last two pictures, the hint of purple in the reds is more apparent than in other pictures. Oh, and these socks were knit toe-up.
I had extra motivation to finish these quickly so I could mail them off to their new owner overseas without much delay. Fingers crossed, I hope they fit!
Three old ladies knit the socks of death
Today’s post title is courtesy of Rick Riordan’s The Lightning Thief. I thought this chapter heading was too cute not to use. (The book is first in a series about a boy’s modern-day adventures with the Olympian gods, demigods, creatures, and monsters. If you are familiar with Greek and Roman mythology, it’s easy to guess the three knitters are a recreation of the Fates or moirae.)
Did you notice? I’ve been on a sock break lately. In late August or early September, I suddenly wanted to knit something different. But I didn’t go cold turkey; I’ve been stealthily working on a sock design for my Hogwarts SS2 pal, Amelia.
It’s been a slow process. It took me a while to get a chart draft worked out to my satisfaction, and then even longer to knit it and see what worked—or didn’t. Finally, I think I have gotten it sorted out.
Here’s a preview:
There’s no color for two reasons. It’ll be a surprise to Amelia as to which House colors these are. (She is in Gryffindor, but is open to other house colors since she received Gryffindor colors in the first term.)
I also removed the color because I’m interested in your name suggestions and didn’t want any color influence. I do have a favorite name in mind, but want your fresh perspective. (I haven’t decided yet whether to submit this design to a magazine, or to self-publish.)
Meanwhile, while trying to boost my socknitting mojo, I signed up for Socks in the Cities KAL, and volunteered to be a Sockapalooooza Savior.
After a few false starts, I decided to knit the newest Sockamania Club KAL pattern for my pal. The colorway I’m using is “The Berry Brigade” from Spunky Eclectic. The purplish tinge has, thus far, been impossible for me to capture in a photo, but I’m loving the red.
3 things
- It’s so sad, shocking, and awful about the bridge collapse. Yes, I’m OK. Fortunately no one in my family was anywhere close. I used to live on the West Bank, right in this area; I can’t imagine how stressful it must be over there now.
- In case you missed the news, MezzoDiva is fundraising for her participation in the 2007 Weekend to End Breast Cancer. If you contribute, you will get a copy of her sock pattern Campanula for the Cure! All the details and donation instructions are available in this post. She has also recently started a KAL blog for anyone planning to knit the pattern. It’s a very pretty pattern; I haven’t quite decided what yarn I’ll use. Possibly the recent Rockin’ Sock Club colorway, Firebird? Or maybe I’ll wait to see what arrives this month?
- Did you know Tuesday Morning currently sells yarn? And not just the eyelash/novelty variety. I had no idea. Mom happened to stop in there yesterday and bought a few skeins for me. She reports that the shelves were pretty messy and picked over (typical of the store), but that there were also some very nice yarns priced at 50% off retail.
May Day
How’s this for a triple? These socks qualify for Sockamania, SAM3, and the Rockin’ Sock Club! They were a fairly quick knit.
Hat of Gold
Skeins Her Way is having a contest, check it out! You could win a copy of her Fitted Tank pattern and some lovely organic cotton yarn. Go to her contest post for the prize and entry details.
Here are my knitting goals for this summer:
A Calorimetry for Me Buffy
Buffy: Ooh, I like your headband. Where did you get it?
lime: Thank you! I knit it myself.
Buffy: Hmm. WIll you knit one for me?
lime: I’m sorry, I have too many projects. If you’d like, I can teach you how to knit.
Buffy: Nah. It’ll be easier if I just take yours. *stake*
lime: *poof*
I wanted a headband similar to Calorimetry but in a lighter weight.
A Well-Executed Plan
Confession time. Remember how I mentioned in the previous post I hadn’t noticed my stripe count error in the maroon and gold socks until after I had taken a progress photo? To be precise, I didn’t notice the problem until after I had knit BOTH insteps and tried them on.
My first impulse was to throw the socks onto the floor and stomp them into oblivion. Next, I considered gathering up the offending socks and yarn into a ball and stuffing it way back into the depths of my closet. Childish moment over, I knew the problem was entirely fixable. The possible solutions I came up with included the following:
Striped Setback
More stripy knitting continues. I’ve restarted the Mad Cows for the third time. As soon as I finished the insteps, I put them aside for a while. I really needed a break from them.
I’ve been on a maroon-and-gold kick lately.
At long last!
Thanks everyone for the well wishes last week. I’m mostly over my cold now. Strangely, it was mild (as in I didn’t need much medicine), but also was lingering and annoying. I was very glad to finally get a good night’s sleep!
I managed to finish three garter squares for Warm Up America, but I didn’t feel well enough for the MOA and Knit-Out, so I’ve mailed them directly to the organization. No pictures of the squares; they were knit with Bernat Softee doubled, left over from this blanket (scroll down a little bit).
Once the squares were finished, I eagerly returned to the Fluted Banister socks, because the toes were all that was left to knit.
