Ja, da er det klart for litt ny oppdatering. Jeg prøver å holde meg i skinnet og hekle en til to om dagen, men det ryker til sånn innimellom. Slik som i går da det var fotballkamp på TV mellom Brann og Molde. Da gikk kroken varm og det ble produsert 11 nesten ferdige lapper. Nesten betyr at jeg lun heklet de tre innerste rundene og lot den siste med montering være igjen. Det krever litt for mye øyne for å få fint til.

Men her er teppet slik det ser ut i dag.

Og i tillegg til disse rutene så ligger disse nå klar for å få siste runde og montering.

Og ja, nå er Sock Madness over. Jeg gav meg i femte runde da jeg så at livet kom i veien for strikkingen. Men Dyveke holdt det gående og VANT hele galskapen! Det er så utrolig moro og fantastisk og hun er bare RÅ!! GRATULERER!!! Dette er kjempemoro!!

More non-competition variations for my “Dimpled Diamonds” sock pattern, released to participants in Sock Madness 3 on Tuesday, 12 March, now that the round has closed.

(I’m writing only the *modifications*, for you to pencil them into your margins.)  I enjoyed knitting this pattern, and I sincerely  hope that you will too!

If you are working the size specified in the  Sock Madness pattern and want to narrow the ankle section only, use these numbers after you turn the heel:

Rd 5:  K 18, sl(p)3 . . . .

Rd 8:  K2, k2tog, k to last 4 sts, ssk, k2.

Rd 9:  K 14, sl(p)3 . . . .

Rd 12:  K2, k2tog, k to last 4 sts, ssk, k2.

Rd 13:  K 10, sl(p)3 . . . .

Rd 16:  K2, k2tog, k to last 4 sts, ssk, k2.

Rd 17:  K 6, sl(p)3 . . . .

Rd 21:  K 3, sl(p)3 . . . .

Your final expansion rd will be Rd 25, instead of Rd 29 like the other sizes, but the same directions will work for you.  Follow them as written in the pattern from here on.

———————————–

For a narrower foot overall, see previous post from 5/13.

———————————-

Dimpled Diamond pattern FAQ:

Q:  What does the term “touch-down stitch” or “anchor stitch” refer to?  A:  That is my own term for the single knit stitch after a long run of slipped stitches; not a special technique, just a shorthand term that I can then use later on in the pattern.

Q:  When you “knit under” the strand, are you knitting that as a new stitch?  A:  No, you’re knitting a stitch in the current row, but reaching your right needle tip under that loose strand on the front 2 rounds down before you do it.  This tucks the strand around behind the new stitch, thus the term “tuck stitch”.  Your stitch-count should not change.

Q:  Does it matter exactly where I start the arch-shaping?  A:  No, but be sure to do it before the heel, so that your stitch-count will match the pattern as you go forward and your arch/instep will have enough room in the sock.

————————————

No news yet on my resubmitted Level 2 materials.  DH mailed the box on Friday and I don’t expect the reviewer to receive it until the middle of next week.  I’ll work on and post about other stuff in the meantime . . . .

“May you live in interesting times.”

With all the ups and downs our little family has gone through over the last 2 months, trying to keep one’s head on straight has been hard enough, let alone trying to blog about it.

I’ll give you a cliffnotes version of what’s been going on and then give you the project/stash enhancement details.

- Competing in Sock Madness 3 (I’ve made it through to the Semi-Finals!)

- Yarn Crawl with SilverPheonix in Toronto (we had so much fun! He blogs about it here.)

- Elderly Father-in-law hospitalized & undergoes brain surgery (he had a subdural bleed resulting from falling and hitting his head). He’s home (and doing well) now after scaring the pants off of us after a month & a half of surgery & rehab.

- WE’RE FINALLY MOVING!!!! Unbelievably, we scored the assistant building managers position of my In-Laws’ apartment building. We move in June 1st. The new apartment is IMMACULATE, has a balcony (which being on the 5th floor gives me the willies), and the building has laundry facilities! (Can you hear the angels singing?) Best of all 50% off of the rent and the opportunity of maybe running a building of our own in the future. Sweet.

- My laptop (or rather the harddrive thereof) DIED. Subsequent tries by my beloved to repair the ancient Dell Latitude resulted in 2 more fried harddrives. We have since decided that this is my laptop telling us to “Leave me the hell alone and let me die in peace!”. BadgerDan is allowing me to share his laptop until he can get us some new MacBooks. No more screwing around. We did a backup a while ago, so I didn’t lose too much data (I hope.)

- Our nephew Richard and his girlfriend Shannon are going to have a baby boy (first baby in the family in a *very* long time and soon-to-be big brother Eric doesn’t know what he’s in for). Yay, baby knitting!

- My cousin is getting married at the end of July and I’m thinking a blanket will be a good gift. If I crochet it, I might just be able to get it done in time.

A whole bunch more has been going on, but those are the biggies.

Okay, lets get to some fun fibry stuff!

First, some shout-outs:

My darling SilverPheonix gifted me with these:

Organic 2-ply Laceweight Alpaca from a local breeder! A 4 oz skein each “Li’l Miss”(brown) & “Verdy” (cream) which I assume to be the names of the individual animals.

and he *made* me these gorgeous stitch markers!

(There was a bunch of other goodies in the care package too – spoiled me rotten, you did, David! Thank You!)

Remember all those finished socks from the last post for the Sock Knitter’s Anonymous February Challenge? Well, I *actually* WON some yarn!

This is a wicked 100g skein (500m) of Yak Wool 4Ply in “Electrical Storm” donated by Ruth (Cinders over on Ravelry) of (Black Cat Fibres) all the way from Lancashire, England. I can’t stop petting it.

Katkoe of PaperandYarn sent me an adorable little set of flowery stitch markers to brighten my day. Which they did, but I just can’t get a good picture of them. They’re real cute though. Thanks again!

Some purchased Yarn Pr0n:

I was a really good girl (and I have David to back me up on this), yarnwise at least (lol) while on our Yarn Crawl and only fell down when I saw this absolutely GORGEOUS skein of Koigu KPPPM over at Lettuce Knit. I think it looks like African Violets, don’t you? I paid full price for it, but as it was a special occasion, we decided it doesn’t count .

In the interests of full disclosure, I’ve also purchased the following yarn:

- 4.5 balls of Bouquet “Marina” Superwash Wool (around $2.50 from the Salvation Army) I needed it to make my FIL a pair of gloves (detailed later).

- A mixed bag of yarn which included a few of balls of Kroy wool & some misc. acrylic ($4 from the Salvation Army)

- A ball of Cream Georga 100% Mercerized Wool from Walmart (I paid full price for this one, but needed it to make these socks as a future project, I already had 2 balls of the dark grey and don’t want to mix with a non-mercerized wool.)

- 2 BAGS (20 balls) of Twilleys of Stamford Freedom Spirit col. 417 “Promise” (which I scored at an unbelievable 70% off). I don’t have plans for it yet, but by the Gods, 2400m of DK Wool should be enough to make *something*!! Maybe even something “Rowan-esque”. Ain’t it purty?

See? I’ve been good.

If you follow me at all, you won’t be surprised that I’ve been working on a whole whack of projects since my last post. So consider yourself warned that this section is heavy on the photos and content.

I’m going to detail the misc. stuff (in chronological order) first, then the Sock Madness Rounds, followed by what’s currently on the needles and what ended up in the proverbial Frog Pond. Sound good? You sitting down? Let us begin.

Miscellaneous FOs

SilverPhoenix Hat – a surprise gift for David given to him on our trip to Toronto.

Pattern: Louisa by Kristi Pedersen (West Coast Creative)
Yarn: Twilleys of Stamford Freedom Spirit, “Air” (Shade 506); Filatura di Crosa Zara, light grey (Col 1494)

Quilted Windmill Cloth – the March 2009 Mid-month cloth for the Monthly Dishcloth KAL Yahoo! Group.

Pattern: The Windmill Dishcloth by Sew-Funky
Yarn: Bernat Handicrafter Cotton; Jewels, Delft Blue, Light Blue

FIL’s Manly Gloves – Danny’s Dad lost one of his leather winter gloves, so I offered to make him a new pair. When I asked what colour, 3 voices responded in unison “Grey. Plain.” *SIGH* Let’s just say that I would rather give myself a lobotomy with a plastic DPN over making these gloves again.

Pattern: Gloves for Service Men by the American Red Cross (vintage pattern from 1942)
Yarn: Bouquet Marina, col. 6750 (Steel Grey)

Pleated Beret – This was the April Vertical KAL Woolly Wormhead hat. It worked up fast and well, but just looks *wrong* on my head. I don’t know why. I’ll take it apart later and reuse the yarn for something else. I’ll try the pattern again with a different yarn some other time.

Pattern: Pleated Beret by Woolly Wormhead
Yarn: FibraNatura Oak, Tyme (40255); Sublime Extra Fine Merino DK, WaterLeaf (019)

Highland Hose – They’re finally DONE!!!!!!! And OMG I love them!!! I reversed the cables on the second one to make them symmetrical.

Pattern: Rose’s Hose by Rose Singerman (from “Sock Hop: Socks to Make Your Feet Dance” by Joseph Madl for Philosopher’s Wool)
Yarn: Hayfield Falkland, col. 16004 (250g)

Illusion Egg Hunt Cloth – the April KAL Cloth for the Yahoo! Monthly Dishcloth KAL. I used up scraps to stripe the “eggs”. Trust me that there are a lot of better looking versions than mine .

Pattern: Illusion Egg Hunt Dishcloth by Deborah C. Tilley
Yarn: Bernat Handicrafter Cotton, Natural; Lemon Swirl; Denims; Natural Ombre

Malachite BSJ – A jacket for the new grand-nephew! I forwent the buttons and did some i-cord ties instead.

Pattern: Baby Surprise Jacket by Elizabeth Zimmermann
Yarn: Georga 100 percent Cotton, Green Multi; Dk. Green Cotton from frogged Old Navy Sweater

April Squares – The April CAL squares for the 2009 Sampler Afghan.

Pattern: April Square by Julie A. Bolduc
Yarn: Chunky Homespun from frogged Equadorian Sweaters

Mystic Star Shawl – is COMPLETE and FRICKING GORGEOUS! Couldn’t be happier (although I thought that last clue was going to kill me). I assure you, there are beads in there.

Pattern: Mystic Star by Anna Dalvi
Yarn: Broder Medicis 2-ply laceweight wool (from France) handdyed to a midnight blue by me.
Beads: #8 Miyuki Clear Beads

Little Acorn Bag – I crocheted up this little project bag on a whim. (Little did I know where it would lead…more on this later.)

Pattern: Little Acorn Project Bag by Brigitte Read
Yarn: Light Brown Mystery Tweed from Stash; Noro Kureyon, Col. 149
Beads: 3/4″ Wood

Absinthe Socks – a pair worthy of the Green Fairy, don’t ya think? A couple of modifications: I ran 2×2 ribbing up the back of the leg, made the cuff longer (total 18 rnds instead of 12) and reversed the middle cables on the second sock.

Pattern: Absinthe socks by Sara Morris (Knitty, Spring 2009)
Yarn: Scheepjes Invicta Extra, Electric Green (discontinued)

BadgerDan’s Bad-ass Driving Gloves – My beloved had his birthday at the end of March (his 49th – I love you honey! *duck*) and these are what he wanted me to make him. Had to do an inter-library loan to get the pattern, but it was definitely worth it. (I plan on getting my own copy when I do my “book binge” this year.) The only thing I modified was shortening the straps to 7″ and replacing the D-rings with a button closure.

Pattern: Driver by Robin Melanson (from Knitting New Mittens & Gloves)
Yarn: Gjestal Selbu Husflidgarn, Col. 312 (black heather)

April Showers Cloth – the April Mid-month Cloth for Monthly Dishcloth KAL Yahoo! Group. I “intarsia”ed the contrast border.

Pattern: April Showers by Deborah C. Tilley
Yarn: Bernat Handicrafter Cotton, Green Twists; Forest Green

May Squares – The May CAL squares for the 2009 Sampler Afghan.

Pattern: Rainbow Crochet 6″ Square by Sarah Bradberry
Yarn: Homespun Wool from frogged 2nd hand Equadorian Sweaters

If you’re wondering, the 2009 Sampler Afghan currently looks like this at the moment:

I whipped off a bunch of baby socks in leftover yarn (details in the links):

Spring Stripes Baby Socks

Woodsy Baby Socks

Reese’s Pieces Stripe Baby Socks

Baby Huntsman Socks

Cosmos Baby Socks

Dr. Who Baby Socks

Which bring us to my latest FO – the Little Knitted Acorn Project Bag

When I shared my crocheted acorn bag with my Sock Madness friends, a few of them requested a knitted version as they don’t crochet. Always willing to assist, I offered to write one. And this is the result:

I consulted with the original designer and she gave me the green light to offer it as a free pattern. As soon as I hear back from my test-knitters and get the pattern re-typed (my master was nuked with the rest of my laptop), the PDF will be available as a Free Ravelry Download and I’ll have a direct download from here as well. (Providing, of course, I can figure out HOW to make it work.)

So, if you’re interested, stay tuned!

Sock Madness

This year’s Sock Madness has been a lot of fun so far. We’ve just finished up Round 5, with only 2 rounds left to go. And I’m STILL IN THE RUNNING! I guess all the practice has paid off (lol).

In retrospect, I do admit that some of my yarn choices could have been better…

(As the designers are always better at explaining their own patterns, I’ve provided links to the Sock Madness blog posts in the pattern notes for each.)

Round 1 – Tropical Mer-tini Socks

Pattern: Tropical Mer-tini Socks by Ronni Smith
Yarn: Austermann Step, Col. 09
Needles: 2.25mm

Round 2 – Tokena Socks

Pattern: Tokena by Tricia Weatherston
Yarn: Shelridge Farm Soft Touch Heather, Cajun Spice; Paton’s Kroy 3-ply, Col. 390
Needles: 2mm DPNs (cuff, heel, toe); 2.25mm DPNs (fair isle)

Round 3 – Talia’s Wings (The Manly Version)

(A little note: BadgerDan requested a pair be made for him during the competition – these would be them.)

Pattern: Talia’s Wings by Heatherly Walker
Yarn: Lana Grossa Meilenweit Marmi, col. 7001
Needles: 2.5mm circs

Round 4 – Lucky Diamond Socks

(After I finished this round, I made the following modifications to my socks: Lengthened toe by 1″ and lengthened cuff to 1.5″.)

Pattern: Lucky Diamonds by Melissa Goodale
Yarn: Shelridge Farms Soft Touch Ultra 3ply, col. SU0107A-081(Blues); Paton’s Kroy 3ply, col. 374 (Dk. Navy)
Needles: 2.25mm circs

Round 5 – Fine Feathered Feet

Pattern: Dimpled Diamonds Socks by Deborah Swift
Yarn: Opal Rainforest 4ply, Owl
Needles: 2.25mm, 2mm

Next stop…the Semi-finals!

Which brings us to what I’m actively working on right now:

Works In Progress

The Zen Pullover is slowly taking shape:

I’ve opted to sew the sleeves and instead of working the back & front pieces seperately, picked up and am knitting the body in round top down. I hope it will fit – if not, I’ll just pull it back and add more stitches. It is a “Zen” pullover after all…

I joined yet another Mystery Shawl KAL – this one is called “Wings of Horus” by Kalinumba and involves solving riddles before you can open the PDF Clues. Due to Sock Madness demanding my attention, I’ve only completed the first 2 clues (the 5th one was just released):

If the yarn looks familiar – it should. It’s the same yarn I used for the now frogged Casablanca Shawl. Doesn’t it look like falcon feathers? The last clue will have us adding a whole bunch of beads – I’ll have to find some golden ones I think.

Sock Knitters Anonymous is running another mystery sock KAL – this one by the famous Yarnissima! The pattern is called Kiila and I’ve finished the first clue (again, delayed by Sock Madness).

The yarn is a discontinued yarn from KnitPicks called “Memories” in the “Redwood Forest” colourway. Here’s a close-up:

And since the only knitting book to somehow escape being packed away for the move is my copy of “Favorite Socks” and I’m so close to finishing the 52 Pair Plunge II (it ends May 31st and my current total stands at 43 pairs), I have a couple of pairs on the go from there:

SuperMeida Socks (Meida’s Socks by Nancy Bush) is using up one of my oddball, single skein, “what was I thinking” yarns – Cascade Sassy Stripes in a forgotten colourway that I can’t find the name of. It just reminds me of a superhero costume. The toe is some closely matching dk grey 4-ply Kroy.

Here’s what it looks like with a foot in it:

The stitch pattern reminds me of Wonder Woman for some reason…

And begun today…

Cable Rib Socks (by Erica Alexander) which I’m altering a wee bit by knitting them out of the Fleece Artist Blue Face Leicester Aran (Cosmic Dawn colourway) from my frogged Thrum Socks (I kept the mohair roving to spin – hey it’s Fleece Artist and I’m thrifty!) on 3.25mm needles. I’ve reduced the stitch count down to 42. So far, so good.

This brings us finally to:

The Frog Pond Report

Even after changing to yet *another* yarn, the Dogwoods in Spring Mystery Shawl didn’t want to cooperate – so into the pond it went. Eventually, I hope to find the right yarn.

Believe it or not, it’s taken me over 7 hours to complete this blog post. I really do need to start contemplating blogging on a daily basis…

That is, if my “times” don’t get any more “interesting”.

TTFN.

Dimpled Diamonds Socks

At least 2 knitters have finished their socks (wow!), so I think it’s “safe” now to post some non-competition-appropriate variations.

First installment is a version that is narrower overall, as I made my prototype.  This width takes less yarn:  I used only 74 grams/280 yards of Shepherd Sock stripey yarn.  Later on, I plan to post changes to narrow only the ankle.

Errata found so far:    — Mark these on your pattern!!

• The center-back marker needs to go after st #19 and not after #18. I think all the instructions after that are correct (the “k18, slip 3,…” ones), once the marker is in the right place.  You’ll know your Rd 5 is right if you slip the last 2 sts on heel ndl and the 1st st on instep ndl and your touch-down st is directly above the tuck-st of previous set.
• Toe, Round 2, the bracketed instructions should read: “k1, kfb, k to last 3 sts on ndl, kfb, k2”.
• Foot, Rd 9, instep should end with “k4”, to make 5 knit sts altogether.
• Ankle, Rd 3, the marker should go after st #19, and the plain round before the final expansion is Rd 28, not Rd 29.

—————————————————————

Competitors must work the pattern as written, but non-competitors who want an overall narrower foot on their Dimpled Diamonds socks may make the following modifications.

Same toe, but stop when you reach 29 + 29 = 58 sts.

Patt Rd 1: K 5, sl(p)3 . . . .  (You fill in the rest; be symmetrical.)

Patt Rd 3: K5, dip-&-tuck . . . .

Patt Rd 5: K2, sl(p)3 . . . .

Patt Rd 7: K2, dip-&-tuck . . . .

Patt Rd 9: K 3, sl(p)5 . . . .

Patt Rd 11: K 5, dip-&-tuck . . . .

At 5 – 5 1/2″, add 3 pairs of sole sts, as directed, unto 29+35= 64 sts.

Work heel as directed, but on 35 sts.  So your first turn will be between sts #34 and #35.

Ankle choices:
Slim = decrease a pair of sts on rd 8 and on rd 12, unto 60 sts.
Avg = increase 1 pair of sts on rd 4, unto 66 sts; perhaps use smaller ndl on cuff-top.
Wider = inc 1 pair of sts on rd 4, also unto 66 sts; larger ndls throughout ankle and cuff.

You can probably work out the ankle pattern expansions yourselves by eye, having gotten this far with the Quilted Lattice stitch-pattern, but you can contact me via the Comments section if you need further assistance on this.

————————–

I do not have numbers specifically for wider feet.   Perhaps either the medium or narrow sizes, worked at a larger gauge and/or in a thicker yarn, would work for you.  Or, if you feel more confident, add more stitches in the toe and add more reps to the Quilted Lattice pattern on the instep; just make sure you have a multiple of 6 stitches by the time your pattern joins up at the ankle-back.

—————————

Customizing for higher insteps may be accomplished by adding more stitches at mid-foot and decreasing them (or not, if you also want a wider ankle) at ankle-back.  Just make sure you have a multiple of 6 sts before the pattern joins up at center-back.

—————————

I will post modifications for narrowing the ankle portion on the medium-width sock after all the official competitors have passed that point in their race.

—————————-

More spring images.

Those aspen buds I posted last week have been growing. 

But we also have some “volunteers” coming up in undesireable places. 

I think I’ve finished my last resubmission knitting!  More later.

Firstly, for participants in Sock Madness 3 who received my Dimpled Diamonds sock pattern today, Tuesday, 12 March 2009:

Errata found so far:
Toe, Round 2, the bracketed instructions should read:  “k1, kfb, k to last 3 sts on ndl, kfb, k2“.
Foot, Rd 9 should end with “k4” instead of “k5″, to make 5 knit sts altogether.
Ankle, Rd 3, the marker should go after stitch #19, and the last plain round before the final expansion is Rd 28, not Rd 29.

—————————————  edited to add most up-to-date corrections. ————————————–

Secondly, for those following my work on Level 2 of TKGA’s Mast Handknitter program:

I’ve also finished another swatch to resubmit.

Here’s the original Swatch #14 – Cable #1, “Wave Cable”.

Swatch #14 - original

It’s main flaw is, perhaps, immediately apparent.   Although, strictly speaking, these cables do have “3 reverse stockinette sts or 3 garter sts on each side”. . .  this is not exactly what the committee had in mind when they wrote the directions. 

Evaluator’s notes:  “The instructions were not followed correctly for this swatch.  …  Eliminate the rib in the center.  This swatch should resemble the appearance of [your] swatch #15 with the two cables and only 3 stitches in between.  …  The seed stitch at the bottom is less than 1″ and seed stitch border should be worked with better tension.”

Swatch #14b -- for resubmission

Seed stitch in Cascade 220 certainly does loosen up when wet!  But I’m hoping this swatch’s borders will pass muster.  I didn’t attempt to straighten the edges fully, but let them flare; judge said of Swatch #16 that the ” flare in the borders as been successfully managed,” so I’m not so worried that the un-compensated borders be flare-less.  Would you agree?

She has liked my cable work overall, writing, ” The cables are nicely made with good tension on the knit to purl transition at the edges,” and “This is a very nice cable with good tension and good blocking.”  All my cable *patterns*, however, need to be rewritten to be more brief, terse, and clear, with standard terminology, layout, and notation.  Perhaps this would be a good time to mention that I specifically *asked* for extra vigilance in checking and critiquing my pattern-writing.  [Notice, from the first part of this post, that others are reading my pattern-writing, so constructive criticism can be put to good and immediate use!]

Jada, sock madness holder det gående, eller skal jeg si at jeg holder det gående i sock madness. Det er galskap dette her, men du og du hvor kjekk galskap det er. Mønsteret for runde fire kom ut kl fire natt til fredag 1. mai. 1. mai er som mange vet en fridag hvor ingen barn er i barnehage. Det innebærer jo derfor at barnehagebarn er hjemme og maser hull i hodet på foreldre. Denne 1. mai deltok også mannen i huset i ett sykkelritt på formiddagen og i tillegg var det store planer om å bygge terrasse på ettermiddagen. Ingen av disse tingene passet inn med nytt sock madness-mønster. Jeg hadde planer om å la sokker være sokker og heller slappe av og kose meg. Men da jeg så mønsteret så visste jeg at disse sokkene kunne strikkes fort og gale. Ikke noe problem. Som sagt, så gjort. Sokkene ble levert kl 02.05 natt til lørdag. Og da hadde jeg sovet hele natten, vært alene med ungene frem til kl 14, vært ute i hagen og jobbet med blomsterbed og terrasse og vært mamma. Så disse sokkene er faktisk superenkle å strikke. Og fine ble de også!

Strikket på pinne 2,5 i Sisu og et håndfarget garn fra AvaAdore. Fargene er helt feil. Det lyse garnet er helt knallguloransje og det andre er petrol/teal. De er helt supre! Digger disse sokkene.

Og hagen? Den blir bedre og bedre!

Først kom ett lass med materialer:

Så var det bare å bygge. Ok, kanskje ikke bare bare, men vi gjør da så best vi kan. Dette er litt under halvparten av den totale terrassen. Den blir på ca 55-60 kvm til slutt. Og legg merke til det fine kirsebærtreet i bakgrunne.

Og bare sånn helt til slutt, om noen føler for å kjøpe gave til meg, så er en av disse helt ok.

To fine diamanter, 1 karat, reneste og klareste variant, princess cut og gassan 121. Vakkert og langt fra min lommebok. Og ja, de er min hånd de ligger på. Men samtidig så må jeg innrømme at diamanter er finest på denne måten. Helt alene uten noe som helst dill. Menmen, kanskje jeg får meg en dillamant (som Erik sa som toåring) når jeg blir voksen.

Jippi!!

Dyveke og jeg er videre til runde 4 i Sock Madness. Mønsteret på sokk nr 3 kom på mandag kl 19.00. Etter fire timer hadde jeg kommet så langt som dette.

Jeg strikket dem i garn jeg har kjøpt av HK. En nydelig rødfage med litt lilla og brunt i spetter. Helt fantastisk flott.

Desverre så er verden sånn at man bør sove, gjerne spise litt og gå på jobb. Ja, og om man er så heldig å ha barn, så må man kanskje ta seg av dem litt også. Det innebar at jeg måtte sove, stå opp tidlig, få barn og mann i bhg, strikke to timer, gå på jobb, hente unger, lage middag, være med unger, legge unger gør jeg kunne strikke litt til.

I går kveld kl 22.00 leverte jeg inn bilde av ferdig sokker.

11 timer effektiv strikking og jeg havnet på 3. plass i vår gruppe denne runden. Nå får vi se hvor lang tid de andre bruker på å bli ferdig og når neste sokk kommer. Kommer den på greie tidspunkt, så skal jeg nok forsøke å komme videre til 5. runde også. Men det får tiden vise.

Ja, jeg lever faktisk, det er bare bloggen som har vært litt (?) død i det siste. Har ikke helt hatt gnisten til blogging. Formen min er veldig opp og ned, jeg kunne tenkt meg å være litt oftere oppe, enn nede, men det er vel ikke slikt man kan bestille. Jeg ser at forrige innlegg var 1. mars. Det er ikke bra. Det har skjedd veldig mye på denne tiden.

I år, som i fjor, har jeg meldt meg på Sock Madness. Forskjellen på disse to årene er at jeg i år har selskap av Dyveke. Det hjelper på motivasjonen. Er så langt med videre til 3. runde, og venter på nytt mønster i disse dager. Til nå har vi strikket Tropical Mer-Tini:

Strikket på pinne 2,5 i garn håndfarget av HK.

Og vi har strikket Tokena:

Her har jeg brukt Opal 4 tråds og Lorna Laces. Disse sokkene var utrolig kjedelig å strikke og egnet seg dårlig som fotballkamppåtvstrikketøy. Menmen, vi ble ferdig 2 døgn etter at mønsteret landet i mailboksen. Og da stresset vi ikke en gang. Dyveke og jeg leverte mandag 6. mars, og fortsatt er ikke folk ferdig. Jeg er, også i år, litt forundret over menneskers tolkning av hurtigstrikk. Jeg synes personlig at 2 uker på ett par sokker, ikke er hurtigstrikk… Uansett hvor mye man jobber og har familie.

Ok, så nå venter vi på at den aller siste deltageren skal bli ferdig slik at vi kan få nytt mønster. Det er kjedelig med all denne ventingen.

Utover disse sokkene har jeg også strikket litt annet. Det var, som mange vet, en konkurranse på HB for en tid tilbake. Man skulle samle poeng for regionslaget sitt. Og ja, når det er konkurranse, ja da strikker man som gal. Eller hekler. Disse tingene jeg laget er ikke spesielt spennende, og ikke er det spesielt fine bilder heller, men en liten liste over det jeg laget, kan dere få.

• En jentekjole i Karaoke. (Nå har Maria fått denne, og jeg håper den passer.)
• To par sokker
• Et høydetreningsteppe som nå er plassert på hytten
• En høydetreningssjelevarmer som også er på hytten, til bruk kombinert med høydetreningsteppet
• To luer
• Fem eggeluer
• 10 påskeegg
• Et heklet barneskjerf
• To heklede pannebånd
• En heklet hals
• Tre kjøkkenkluter
• Et par pulsvarmere
• Et sjal i englemasker

Og jeg blir svett, får vondt i hender, skuldre og hode og blir strikkelei, bare av å lese listen. Moro mens det står på, men utrolig utmattende. At vi fikk sockmadness mønster bare noen timer etter at konkurransen var over, hjalp ikke veldig på strikkelysten.

Bilde av Oscar i karaokekjolen. Bare for å vise den dårlige kvaliteten på bildene som ble tatt underkonkurransen.

Nå har jeg masse på pinnene. Det er ingenting som er morsomt å strikke, det er ingenting jeg har lyst til å strikke, jeg har lyst til å strikke alt, men alt jeg har lyst til å strikke har jeg ikke noe garn til. På To Damer på tirsdag kjøpte jeg med noe garn som jeg nå strikker dominoteppe av. Det blir veldig fint, går egentlig ganske raskt, men er ikke veldig spennende. Jeg tror nok bare jeg er litt sliten om dagen. Sliten og giddalaus.

Men jeg lever, det er sol og vi holder på å lage terasse. Det kan jo ikke bli så veldig mye bedre enn dette da!

Nyt våren!

Not a whole lot of knitting going on; that is to say, a variety of projects tackled, but not very many inches produced.  My neck has been bothering me enough that there were several days this week that I just could not knit; plus a day I took off on principle.

My current Square-Top Cap is down to the ribbing.  I’m planning a turned-up brim on this one.   Uses 80 stitches, to be larger than my usual (lately) 72 sts. 

And I’ve progressed on my Multi-directional scarf in Twisted “Duchess” (DK-weight) yarn, colorway “Rodney”. 

And I’ve been swatching some Wisdom Yarns “Poems” in entrelac. 

I redid that

left-most

triangle, but

the new photo

is not as

colorful.

On each tier, I’ve tried a slight variation in the technique:  slipping the top-edge stitches or not, working special selvedge stitches at the side-edges or not, picking up 1/2  or  1 whole stitch in from the previous tier’s edge, purling back or purling back backwards, and so on.  Some look better on the front, some on the back, but I’m homing in on “favorite” techniques — particularly looking ahead to Master Level 3.  Next time, I want to try another cast on. . . .  (So many ideas, so little available time!)  My new LYSO also wants someone to teach a class in entrelac, so I’m exlporing how I might do that myself.  This yarn is a single and very softly-spun, so I’m concerned it may pill easily.  The swatch is, therefore, destined for felting.  (Funky hot pad!)

On the second of my Purl-sided Socks, I’ve reached the instep-increases.  (Due to the curl of the purl side-panels, they look quite funny with no feet in them!)  I’m deciding between 2 heel-possibilities — not an exact match to the first sock — keeps it interesting!

And I have an idea for a next pair. . . .  (Discipline, discipline!  Pace it out.)  These would be for my mother, I think, in Classic Elite’s “Alpaca Sox” yarn, using one of Cat Bordhi’s architectures in New Pathways for Sock Knitters (Book One).  I’m especially looking for that great idea for *next year’s* Sock Madness. . . .

Speaking of Sock Madness, Round 1’s pattern will be released this coming Thursday morning and the competitors are chomping at the bit over on the Ravelry discussion board.  This one is NOT my pattern, but I hope they will yet use mine — it has been featured in one of the teasers!  Again this year, as last, I am  not competing, but watching from the sidelines and enjoying all the hooplah.  Seeing the teasers has made me wish I could get all those patterns, but. . . not this year.

Winter and spring continue to wrestle for dominance (as a devotional I read recently put it). Eventhough we know who wins, it’s entertaining to watch the process. Our weather is warming up this week, and the dormant lawn in starting to show again, from under the snow. 

Knitting-wise, today, I’m fiddling around with some child-sized socks as prototypes for an idea I want to explore. 

It has purl stitches

along the sides,

and I have PLANS

for that panel

when I get to the

ankle! 

When I’m testing a design idea, I often wish knitting went faster, so that I can see the results — good or needing refinement — while it’s still fresh and my mind is still turning.   So, here, I’m using biggish yarn and knitting for a smallish foot.    I don’t want to wear myself out — my neck is acting up something fierce! — but I SOOO want to see if this pans out!

Speaking of sock designs, Sock Madness 3 is taking sign-ups *NOW*, from Sunday 1 March until 6 March, OR until they’re full at about 200.  If you’ve ever thought you might like to get in on the fun crazies that are the Sock Madness speed-sock-knitting contest, send the coordinators an e-mail pronto!

Two hats are progressing.

The US Postal Service tells me that my box of Master Knitter materials arrived in Ohio this past Tuesday — hurray!  So by now it will have been sent on the first reviewer.   I don’t expect to hear until the entire process is complete and several people have evaluated my work.   Then, I’ll get my box back with notes included.  Waiting.

So, what are YOU currently waiting for?  Are you trying out a new idea?

Well, I completed my Level 2 work and put the notebook all together.  (Hurray!!)

And made sure all the projects were tagged and bagged.

And boxed it all up, with padding for protection (I hope!).  Here, teen-genius helps the box and me out to the car.

We posted the box to Ohio, and hope to hear soon that the main office has received it and sent it on to its first reviewer.

I felt pretty lost the first few days after the push to finish was done.  But I’ve since gotten back into editing the pattern I submitted to Sock Madness.  Hillary has been test knitting it, and had some extremely helpful suggestions to improve the pattern’s clarity.  The best way I’ve found to check one of my patterns is to see if I can knit *from* it, so I cast on a third sock and have worked almost all the way back through the main parts, leaving out the length of the foot and the heel turn.  (No photos — it’s secret!)

And I’ve also got another incarnation of my new Square-Top Hat pattern going. 

Then, I pulled my hibernating Kilt Hose out and decided I didn’t like how this arrangement of calf-increases looks.  So, I ripped back the last 3 increase-pairs and have devised a new plan.  We shall see.

And maybe a bunny, maybe a skirt, maybe that entrelac shawl,will also be added/restored as Works in Progress.

. . . while I wait to hear about Level 2.

(Hurray again!  Phew, too!)

I haven’t posted alot about my knitting lately, so I thought I’d do a bit of catching up and summing up.

Last summer, when the bagpipers were in town and the Highland Games were afoot, I was focused on kilt hose.  I started a pair in DK-weight yarn that later got set aside.  I also began a pair in regular sock-weight yarn for a reenactor-friend, to be followed by a pair for an Irish piper.  I set these all aside when submission time came for patterns for Sock Madness 3.  Now that SM3 is pretty much handled, I hope to re-start on my kilt  hose.  I’ve been working both socks on one l-o-n-g Magic Loop circular needle.  Status as of 8/24/2008: 

I like writing patterns for Sock Madness.  Last year, the competitors wrote such nice things!  I know I could make my pattern-writing more terse, and shorter, and be able to say that all the necessary info is “in there”, but I prefer to include explanations and photos, to make the work more accessible and intuitive to the more-visually-inclined among us.  I suppose I write ‘em how I like to read ‘em.  No photo-posting, however, until the Cone of Silence is lifted and the contest coordinators release the pattern.

Aside from the socks, my main project-of-focus has been Level 2 of TKGA’s Master Handknitter program.  I worked through the swatches and their accompanying questions, section by section.  Remember when I was experimenting with buttonholes in 1×1 ribbing?  Boy, I had fun with that one!

And then there were the reports (started, but not done), book reviews (not started, although I have taken some notes), and projects.

Vest 

Mittens

And now, Argyle sock[Yes, they really are THAT BRIGHT.  Dale calls these colors "neon".]

I have progressed on these to just past the centers of the second rank of diamonds, but I don’t have access to the digital camera just now. . . .

I hope to submit my Level 2 work soon.  Perhaps by the end of the month?  No reason to hurry, except to be Done.

Along the way, I’ve worked on some hats — always hats!

Currently, I’m developing the pattern for my Square-Topped hat

and knitting my second Maltese Fisherman’s Hat, by Elizabeth Zimmermann.  [This one's for ME!]

That pattern is available in a SpunOut one-sheet (#9) called “A Horde of Hats”, along with 4 or 5 other cap patterns, for $1 (plus postage) from Schoolhouse Press.  [NAYY, but I love to do business with them.]  Dig the garter stitch short rows.

Other projects still live, but are receiving less of my attention:  Fair Isle sampler scarf, Reversible 2-color pattern sampler, Twisted bias scarf, Noro entrelac shawl.

I think that brings us pretty much up to date!

Don’t forget to enter my 2nd Blogiversary Book Giveaway — scroll down a few posts and leave a comment THERE (so I’ll know it’s an entry) with a kid-safe joke/riddle or other nice comment about Aran/Guernsey/dbliss/kid-knitting.  Deadline is Jan 28, 2009, so there’s still time to join in.  I love to “meet” my readers!

There has been a dirth of knitting content here of late — partly due to the “secret” nature of my work on a new pattern for publishing.  I think this photo may be “safe”, though.    I had been concentrating on only this for the past several weeks.  But now that the pattern has been submitted, I have branched back out.  I’ve resumed my work on Level 2 of the Master HandKnitter program — hurray!  I’m so glad to be at it again.  The Master’s program is so satisfying to me!  Here’s some progress on my vest project: 

I intend the finished product to be for my 8-year-old DD.  Then there’ll be more swatches, projects, and reports. . . .

And, also very exciting to me, I just completed the “Autumn Colors” pattern band in my Fair Isle sampler. 

I drew the motifs and colors from Betts Lampers’ cardigan design, “Autumn Colors Fair Isle”, in Sweaters from Camp, a soon-to-be-out-of-print book from Schoolhouse Press.

I have had the next band in mind for some time:  same motifs, but interlocking, and done in Noro sock yarn on an off-white background.  You can see the barest beginnings of it at the photo’s top.  I wonder how many rounds I’ll get before the yarn changes color?  I had to tink back 3 times before I got the colors aligned properly, but I’m hoping I can forge ahead from here.

The exciting news around the knitting/crocheting/fiber circles of Flagstaff?  A new LYS opening later this month!  “Purl in the Pines”, the ONLY yarn shop in town.  We haven’t had one for 2 1/2 years, since Unravel closed after about 2 years in business.  Many of us are very hopeful of gaining a new place to see and feel yarns, and a new focus for community.  (When I get a link, I’ll post it in the blog and in the sidebar.)

I love seeing the colors change at this time of year.  Our sumac turns earliest.  Here it is on 24 August, with just a bit of yellow peeking through from under the green. 

And here is today’s palette.   

I just love it!

Sock Madness designing had been “eating my lunch” last week (hence the term “carnivorous” in this post’s title!), but this week it’s more or less in hand.  I have the pattern written out to the heel, but am fine-tuning some neat tricks for the ankle.  No photos yet — don’t want to give away any surprises for 2009’s competition!

Two things, actually.

First:  I looked out my window, and guess what I saw along the edges of the leaves on one (only one, so far) of our aspen trees. 

And amongst the sumac leaves. . . 

Yellow! 

September and autumn approach!

The other thing that’s beginning:

Designing for Sock Madness 3!  (More stealth knitting.)

I *can* show you some balling of tentative yarn, with the “help” of my feline companion, Chloe. 

She has actually been showing much more restraint when it comes to the swift.  Of course, once the yarn is balled up — if you look away — she swipes it!

When I learned that the deadline for SockMadness pattern submissions was nearer than I’d realized, I put Lord Scott’s kilt hose on hold and dove in to my stash of ideas and sock yarns.  Currently the “front burner” idea involves . . . 

– wait for it  –

. . . BEADS!

But, of course, I can’t show you much in the way of photos.  [sigh]

Here is how far I’d gotten on Lord Scott’s socks, when he tried them on and I saw where I need to make alterations (after I finish the SM3 design). 

Need to taper the toe and widen the instep.  Yep, that means ripping — from both ends!  But he likes them, and that’s good news.  Haven’t made a final decision on the cuff pattern yet.

My own (prototype) hose are just into the calf-shaping. 

I’m increasing on either side of a central k3 rib, that itself arose from a k1.  We shall see!

If I like it, I may shape more pairs similarly, but I’ll probably shape Scott’s in a more “tradtitional” way with no “spacer” between increases.  Not sure yet.  That’s why I’m working these first — to learn and try.

Gracious fellow sock-designer, ruth “the Yarnarian”, wrote some very nice things about me and my Godmother’s Sock pattern today.  Won’t you go and check out her blog:  http://theyarnarian.blogspot.com/  And this woman knows sock designs!  Need corroboration?  Here’s Celtic Memory Jo’s blog post where she praises Ruth’s “utterly glorious Leafy Green Socks” (scroll down toward bottom, after small-town-Ireland St. Patrick’s Day parade photos).  http://celticmemoryyarns.blogspot.com/2008/03/easter-treading-on-heels-of-st-patrick.html   The Ravelry pattern for those socks is here:  http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/leafy-green-socks

In my last post, I predicted Master Knitter lace photos, and here they are.

Tilted Block or Tilting Trellis. 

Arrowhead Lace.

Openwork Diamonds.    

Anyone reading this who has more expertise than I in knitting lace — I’d appreciate some constructive feedback.  The judges will be looking for even tension, consistent hole-size, smooth decreases, and proper blocking.  Blocking the first one was especially challenging, due to the wavy nature of the biasing stitch-pattern.  I used a smaller needle on the third one, since it had so much stockinette and I wanted it to be very even.  But perhaps that was just my lace-insecurity!  I should probably re-block the 3rd swatch’s bind off row — it looks like it pulls in just a bit. . . .

More progress on the Fair Isle sampler “Autumn Colors” band.  Three quarters of the way through the first of three motifs. 

Pretty bright, eh?!  Especially compared with the Feitelson band just beneath.  I’m considering knitting another band in this sampler with the same motifs (love the 3-rhythm!) but different colors — perhaps a Noro sock yarn for one color. . . .   Also comtemplating Meg Swansen’s “Russian Prime” pullover, which has a comparable 1-3-5 rhythm that might feel similarly “right”  [Image of sweater about 1/3 down this page of SHP videos].  This scarf is becoming quite a bag-ful:  (Hi, Chloe!)

Our Honey Locust tree is done leafing out and looks grand!  Love the multi greens!

Prediction for next post:  Cable swatches and Sock-tops.

Well, round 6 of SockMadness 2008 is winding down.  The 4 Finalists have earned their slots for the final round, probably beginning the end of this week, and other knitters are proceeding at a more leisurely pace.  I have had such joy reading the kind and encouraging words they have written about my pattern and pattern-writing style.  [BTW, if you haven't read Jo's Celtic Memory blog before, let me have the pleasure of introducing you!]

During all this excitement, I decided to work on something quick and easy:  another “28-Hour Cap” (like the Choco-Cherry cap from this past autumn).  I have several interesting colorways of TLC Essentials Multi yarn, and they all knit up into “stripes” in child-sized hats.  Today, I measured the yarn-length for one full cycle of colors in 3 of the colorways. 

These 3 have very similar lengths-before-repeating: the outer ones repeat after about 70″, the inner after about 73″.

Here’s a 70″-repeat yarn in a 68-stitch hat (left) and a 73″-repeat yarn in a 72-stitch hat (right).

Quite similar rhythm, eh?  But one warm and one cool.

DD enjoyed trying the new one on. 

Meanwhile, spring continues to spring up here on the mountain.  The aspen volunteer outside my bedroom window has finally begun to leaf. 

[Why "volunteer"?  Because aspens are clonal; new trees sprout up from runner-roots of older trees.  They just "pop up".]  The winter birds, mostly Dark-eyed Juncos, have gone, the sparrows and finches have stayed, but the hummingbirds have not yet arrived.  New this year:  a pair of doves!   They must like millet.

Heartfelt thanks again to the Sock Madness coordinators, Hillary and Carole, and predecessor-designer Tricia, and all the 2008 SM knitters, whose words have brought such sweetness to my soul in the past few days.  After all the nerves of waiting, y’all have made this a delight!

I’ve been saving this to publish after my Godmother’s Sock pattern is released to the Sock Madness competitors.  Friday, 9 May is the Big Day, so here it is:  ways to get bigger socks from my 64-stitch pattern.  (And several semi-random pent up sock photos!  )

Variation 1:  Change width by changing gauge.

The original pattern was worked at 8.5 sts/inch in stockinette, and fits a foot from 8″-9″ around (my own knuckle-width and instep-width).

If, however you use yarn and needles that give you a different gauge, the same 64 stitches in the pattern will yield a different circumference to your finished sock and that sock will then fit a different size of foot.  You can then add or leave out rounds of length, to fit.  It’s the width that takes some arithmetic to figure.  Here’s a table of possible gauges (measured in stitches per inch over stockinette) matched with foot sizes (measured in inches around the widest part of the foot).  The sock will be much more snug on the upper end of each width range.

Please keep in mind that, although these measurements look oh-so-very accurate with all those decimal places, that’s just because I got them from the calculator.  They are still just as approximate as the 8″ – 9″ measurement of my own foot with which I started.

Variation 2:  Changing width by changing stitch-count.

The original pattern uses 64 stitches.

68 stitches.

Same cast-on.  Same beginning of ribbing pattern, but you’ll end up on round 21 with k3, p1, …, p1,k2 on the instep needle, and 34 plain stitches on the sole.  Same heel, but on 34 vs 32 stitches.  For the ankle, the ribbing on the rear needle will begin with k1, p1, k to last st, p1 for 4 rounds; then k1, p1, (k3, p1), k23, (p1, k3), p1 for 5 rounds; then k1, p1, (k3, p1)x2, k15, (p1, k3)x2, p1 for 6 rounds; then k1, p1, (k3, p1)x3, k7, (p1, k3)x3, p1 for 7 rounds; then k1, p1, (k3, p1)x8 for the remaining 3″ of ankle, about 30 more rounds.  Instep needle and sole needle will not begin in same place in the 3-1 rhythm, but should flow together to be 3-1 all around: instep ends with k2, sole begins with k1;  sole ends with p1, instep begins with k3.  When you get to the cuff, alter the joining rhythm as follows: instead of slipping 3 stitches and SSSK-ing whenever you come to a last-purl-stitch, you must occasionally slip only 2 stitches and SSK, as if they were “normal”:  slip only 2 once somewhere in the middle of the back needle and once more somewhere on the front needle (note that this does not count the very first join, where you slipped only 2 eventhough it was a last-purl).  This rhythm should make your lace and sock both come out evenly and finish at the same time.  Same cuff grafting.

72 stitches.

 Same cast-on.  Begin foot ribbing on round 6 (an even rd with 36 sts): k1,p1, (k3,p1)x4 on the 18 sts on instep needle; plain stockinette on sole.  Continue adding stitches “in pattern” to foot, ending up on rd 23 with k2, p1, (k3, p1) x8, k1 over the 36 sts on the instep needle.  Same heel technique, but on 36 vs 32 stitches.  For the ankle, begin the rear ribbing with k2, p1, k across to last 2 sts, p1, k1 on the heel/sole needle; same for 4 rds.  Then k2, p1, (k3, p1), k23 , (p1, k3), p1, k1 for 5 rounds.  Then k2, p1, (k3, p1)x2, k15, (p1, k3)x2, p1, k1 for 6 rounds.  Then k2, p1, (k3, p1)x3, k7, (p1, k3)x3, p1, k1 for 7 rounds.  Then k2, p1, (k3, p1)x8, k1 for the rest of the ankle, about 30 more rounds.  Note that instep and sole needle (should) have the same arrangement of stitches, beginning with k2 and ending with k1, for a smooth rhythm of 3-1 all around sock.  When you get to the cuff, alter the joining rhythm as follow:  the very first join you do is a normal slip 2 SSK, but the second one is a last-purl-before-a-knit stich and, unlike the original pattern, you will make this a slip 3 SSSK like the other last-purls.  This should have your sock cuff and lace cuff finish evenly.  Same cuff grafting.

I truly hope you enjoy knitting these socks, original or varied, and are pleased with your results.  I look forward to seeing some photos!

Your SM2 round 6 sock E designer,
Deborah (Mt. Mom) Swift

Round 6 of SockMadness 2 starts tomorrow and the pattern will be MINE!  The months of stealth will soon be over.  I’ve planned out some other sizes and saved them in a post for tomorrow.  And there will be photos too — ah, at long last!  For now (and for the next few days) I’m keeping my eye on the SockMadness discussion boards on flickr and Ravelry in case knitters have questions/comments/problems/praises.  (Gee, I hope there are some praises!)  Coordinators Hillary and Carole have been encouraging:  “Then, next Friday we’ll release pattern 6 and I’m sure that you’ll love it.  Really!  It’s fab!” (April 29, 2008 blog post).  [Isn't that nice?!]

Teen-genius has been working on the MountainMom Designs website, so that I can make some kits of my multi-color hat patterns available for sale, but he hasn’t found a way to limit the orders to inventory-on-hand (I only have enough of some of the yarns for 2 Maritime and 6 Dreamsicle kits — chemists call such things “limiting reagents”).  I wouldn’t want anyone to pay for a kit than I can’t provide.  Etsy might be the way to go here.  Your experiences?

Check the Comments on my last post and the one before for some movie trivia action — hurray!

Hi guys! Gosh, where has the time gone? Okay, let me get you up to speed.

Sock Madness Round 5 kicked my butt. As expected, my division (Tennessee Twisted Knitters) filled up first and when I saw that there was only 1 spot left and I had the better part of a whole sock left to do, I called it and went to bed (this was at around 4am on Monday, April 28th, less than 24 hrs into the round). I am very proud to say that I made it to the final 24. (BadgerDan told me that I was still #1 in his eyes and when I woke up later, he had left me some yarn money on the coffee table – hands off, ladies, he’s mine and I’m keeping him!)

I put them down for a bit, but I should finish them in the next day or so:

“Cosmic Ripples” Socks
Pattern: Hippy Ripply Retro Socks by Helen Darmara
Needles: 2.25mm KnitPicks Classic Circular 32″ (Magic loop)
Yarn: Fleece Artist Merino Sock, Cosmic Dawn

Goofed up a bit on the heel (japanese short-row) and since I was out of the main competition anyway, decided to re-do the cuff – this time with beads!

With the competition and pulling a lot more than my usual hours at the shop, needless to say I’ve been a bit on the tuckered out side. Tuesday, it was all I could do to work on my Simple S’mores Socks:

I had planned on doing a “forethought” heel, then went ahead with an “peasant/afterthought” heel. I pulled it out WAY too early, so finally put the stitches on waste yarn until I get further into the leg.

The dishcloth assignment for last week kind of threw me for a loop:

Pattern: Argosy Dishcloth by Vyvyan Neel
Needles: 4mm
Yarn: Bernat Handicrafter Cotton, Summer Twist

It’s huge! 14″ x 11″! Dude, that’s not a dishcloth – that’s a towel! I will give allowances, because it is based on a scarf pattern. Fair warning – only 13″ of yarn left when I finished. I’m going to add a crocheted tab and button to make it a hanging towel.

Wednesday, in a fit of pique, I decided to remove the amber beads from my Mystic Light Shawl as they were imperceptible on the yarn. In the process, a glass shard accidentally cut the yarn, forcing another re-knit. I took this as an opportunity to change out the beads to a silver lined lavender and to bead every SK2PO and it’s looking great! Haven’t gotten too far back in, but as I have all the clues now, the shawl should move pretty fast.

After seeing some of the other Secret of Bad Nauheim shawls on Ravelry, I’m going to re-start that one too and make it to Moni’s original specs.

Hopefully, I can get these two and Mystic Waters done before the summer lace KALs really ramp up in June.

THE CARNIVALE DU PRINTEMPS SOCKS ARE FINALLY DONE!!!!!!

Pattern: Gentleman’s Sock with Lozenge Pattern from “Knitting Vintage Socks” by Nancy Bush
(highly modified by me)
Needles: 2mm DPNs
Yarn: Lorna’s Laces Shepherd Sock – Watercolours, some stash sock yarn in Heathered Purple colour

After 2 whole months of frogging and do-overs, I can’t tell you how happy I am that these are off of my needles and onto my feet!

Sock Madness released the Optional Round on Thursday. This one we are allowed to play with a little, just as long as there is at least one pattern repeat on the leg. Cool. We all know how I cannot leave well enough alone. I began it as a toe-up Cat Bordhi version in JaWoll, but ripped it back as I (yet again) somehow messed up the heel. Went stash diving and will begin again, this time as a top-down and will do a neat technique on the instep. I want to finish my Cosmic Ripples first.

After this pair, it’s Round 6 being released on Friday. These are the lace cuff pair that I’ve been looking forward to for a while. I’m breaking my own rule of green for this round and am going purple with some leftover Fleece Artist Merino Sock in “Origin” (from my Lughnasadh shawl) and the contrast wool from the Carnivale socks, this time doubled for strength.

I have a few other wonderful things to share, but I’ll wait until my next post as this one is getting a little long and I have (an incredibly huge amount of) knitting to catch up on.

TTFN.

before I hit the showers.

This is what I accomplished yesterday:

I finally finished the first sleeve of my FA Garter Stitch Jacket. Took me a little longer than expected.

And look how far I got into my BSJ! Just a few rows shy of the collar decreases now. Probably will be completed next time I pick it up.

OK – gotta go, Sock Madness Round 5 is due to be released in about an hour and sadly, I wasn’t able to find someone to cover for me at the shop today. Thank the Powers that Be that I can knit at work!

I will knit, knit like the wind! (With apologies to Brenda Dayne…)

This should prove to be a very quick round. Wish me luck.

Socks seem to magically appear around here lately:

Needles: 3mm DPNs
Yarn: Georga 100% Mercerized Wool (Rust & Stone Chino), Sublime Extra Fine Merino DK (Shade 0064 – Teal)

These ones are the Santa Fe socks from Knitting on the Road by Nancy Bush and are the March/April socks for the KOTR Sock KAL. BadgerDan has declared that he wants to chuck out all his storebought socks for handmade like mine, so these ones are for him. He’s been quite supportive of me throughout Sock Madness, so he totally deserves them. I kept with Nancy’s original colours, with the exception of the stone colour (which she had as a gold). For gauge, I went with smaller needles and thicker yarn (he needs them durable – pretty much lives in work boots). Thrilled with them and I really quite like the cushy heel pattern.

The dishcloth of the week (c’mon, you know you love them):

Pattern: Three and One Checked Cloth by Linda Smith
Needles: 4mm
Yarn: Bernat Handicrafter Cotton, Hot Blue & Summer Print

Really neat honeycomb sort of stitch pattern which I swear is a slightly modified version of the one Ann Shayne used for her Big Dotty (piano bench) Cushion in Mason Dixon Knitting. Next time, I’ll put a side border on the cloth as it has a tendency to curl and the pattern will look better framed, I think.

And look what came in the mail!

That’s 2 large (1/2 lb!) skeins of natural, undyed worsted weight 100% silk and a bar of handmade soap (Wild Child – Citrus Spash) sent from sl1k1psso as a stash swap. Oh, the possiblities for this yarn!

As I’ve already shown her a sneak peek, I can share with you what I’m sending out to her next week:

She’s a spinner, dyer, sock knitter and beader so I put together a little handdyed special for her:

1 braid Fleece Artist Merino Handdyed Sliver Roving (Angel Fish or Pinata, I’m not sure which)
1 skein Lorna’s Laces Shepherd Sock, Vera (Yes, this is the one I showed you before)
1 skein Claudia’s Handpainted Sock, Chocolate Cherry
1 container Blue Moon Beads, #6 Gold-lined Green

Hope she will “squee” as loud as I did!

Sock Madness Round 5 starts tomorrow morning and I’m still trying to find someone to cover my shift at the store. Wendy is at the Knitter’s Frolic in Toronto all weekend so I’m manning the shop for her today.

We’ll see what happens. As it stands, this is the yarn I’ll be using for this round:

Fleece Artist Merino Sock in the Cosmic Dawn Colourway. This is the one I used to make my keychain sock last year:

I’m a little nervous this round (only 3 spots per Division!) and it’s the one using the Japanese Short-Row heel. I’ll have to teach myself that little technique this afternoon.

Gonna see if I can finish the sleeves on my Fleece Artist Garter Stitch Jacket today (but I’m going to bring my BSJ project with me as well, I mean, you never know…)

Later….

Whew! I can barely believe it, but I somehow managed to score the 6th and final place in the Tennessee Twisted Knitters division.

These are some fast sock knitters, y’all. Mine took me from 9 am Monday to 5:18 pm Tuesday to knit. The first pair that were completed this round were knitted in about 14 hrs. Um, yikes.

Without further ado, I present to you, my Sock Madness Round 4 socks:

Pattern: Something’s Shady by Corey LaFlamme
Needles: 2.25mm DPNs
Yarn: Sandnes Garn Lanette, colour 2103 (butter yellow)

A simply lovely pattern using lace, small cables and an afterthought heel.

And here they are after I dip-dyed them using 6 packets of Lime Kool-Aid:

Gorgeous – I love them.

I’m going to go fall down now.

There is nothing like a knitting competition to royally mess with your sleep cycle.

Before Round 3 Pattern for Sock Madness was released, I did manage to finish my April CAL Afghan Square:

Pattern: Chocolate Delight by Dayna Audirsch
Hook: 5mm
Yarn: Mission Falls 1824 Wool (007 – Cocoa, 005 – Raven)

I also managed to throw a batch of cornbread for BadgerDan into the oven – for which he was very surprised and grateful. He loves my baking.

Enter the Knitathon – after 20 hours:

Sock #1 was complete.

After 52 hours:

I had a pair.

The pattern is Slippin’ Stripin’ Socks by Christine (Tina) Lorin and I ended up doing them on 2.25mm needles.

I’m calling these “Bayou Sunset” because the colours remind me of the final rays of the sun as seen reflected off of the water through the shadows of Spanish Moss-covered Weeping Willows. Okay, maybe I’ve read one too many Anne Rice novels.

BadgerDan got the title immediately – granted, we do read the same books. :1)

I’m glad I pushed myself on this pair – I came in 6th out of 12 in the Tennessee Twisted Knitters division. Next round, there are only 6 places. Yikes!

Finished another dishcloth – only 3 behind now:

Pattern: A Little Lace Kitchen Cloth by Carol Bristol Designs
Yarn: Bernat Handicrafter Cotton, Swimming Pool
Needles: 4mm

I love this colour – must get more.

It’s been an rather odd week, peppered with intermittent nap attacks and bizarre shopping excursions.

Let me relate to you the Great Toaster Conspiracy of 2008.

Our toaster oven kicked the bucket, so we decided to replace it with a regular toaster. No problem – I thought. Ha Ha.

- Picked up a nice Procter-Silex model from the local Walmart and brought it home. Put bread in it, but the lever wouldn’t stay down – hence, it wouldn’t toast.
- Brought it back, got a new one. Same problem.
- Called Procter-Silex – it should work.
- Brought 2nd one back to store and got a different toaster altogether. Same problem – WTH is going on?
- BadgerDan suggests perhaps our bread is the problem. Shouldn’t a toaster work with ANY bread? I mean, really! You put the bread in, push the button down, it toasts the bread and then pops the bread out. Where’s the problem? BadgerDan returns 3rd toaster to store.
- Decided to live without toaster, as apparently they don’t make a gluten-free model.

DH was moving a 400lb welder Monday and popped his knee so he wasn’t going anywhere yesterday. (He’s fine now, just a little sore.) This meant, I had access to the van and could pay a rare visit to Gemini Fibres in Mount Albert.

Ahh, so much woolly goodness, so little time…

After weeping over the beauty (and prices) of the Forrester spindles, I grabbed a couple of books, see if you can spot a theme:

There was another little something I picked up as well, but I’ll share that when I can show you what it goes with.

I also forayed into the local Chapters this week and grabbed their last copy of this:

I am totally making the Padma Jacket (the top left corner of cover).

After a little bit more running around yesterday – I pretty much collapsed in a heap on the couch for the rest of the night.

The kitchen and the laundry need a bit of tending to before Stitch n’ Bitch tonight, so I’d better get going. (Not that DH is getting home early tonight. His luck continues, just called – the van has a flat.)

That and the second sock beckoning me to the darkside:

This pair is taking WAY too long to complete. I want them DONE! Arrgghhhh. Must be the accursed pink – yeah, that’s it.

The specs for Sock Madness, Round 4 are up and the pattern will be released early Monday morning. I’m off to go rummage a bit in the stash (and ignore the laundry – I mean, who needs underwear?)

TTFN.

The second round of Sock Madness went fast. Way too fast by half. In a week where I moved my out of my home away from home (a small 10′x10′ bedroom) to a much more spacious apartment, I tried to faithfully knit on my socks, whilst furnishing the new place with things ferried from home number one. It didn’t work. I got about half a repeat into the socks before I got home last night where I saw, to my dismay, that the Tennessee Vols group had 19 completed pairs. Even had I stayed up ALL night, there was no way in.

These aren’t my favorite pair of socks so far, even though I find the stitch pattern intriguing, so I’m going to toss these and participate at will. And I’m going to save that Sweet Georgia Concord for something else. I do have the coveted laceweight yarn for whatever round they are in, so I’m certainly going to be knitting that pair of socks. But now I can go back to finishing some other projects and having a more normal knitting life.

I think I knew I was going to be out earlier this week when I thought, ‘Crap, this is keeping me from working on x, y & z.’

Picture to come soon.