April 6, 2007

Sock Frustration

Okay, remember I told you I had CO and had finished the ribbing on the latest sock, and that I was looking at the Horcrux Sock Pattern? <--click Well, I got about 2 1/2 inches done and didn't like the way it looked. (Probably my fault as I substituted K2togTBL for the SSK.) So, I ripped it all out and CO again, this time doing a garter stitch "cuff" and a spiral eyelet pattern. Got about 2 inches done and, yup, didn't like it and ripped it out. So, I CO on yet again did my one inch of ribbing and then began the plain vanilla sock we know so well. I think I'm doomed to knitting plain socks. Maybe I need to make a click--> shawl like Joansie's so that I have all the fancy stuff associated with lace knitting down so it's second nature! And then maybe just following a pattern as it's written..... Okay, that may not be possible at all!

BACK YARD REPORT: It's dry enough I'm going to go out and rake up the doggie do and leaves...At that point I can determine if the kids can go outside today or not (keeping fingers crossed).

This is the art of Dave Cole. Now that's impressive!

Got a bit more done on Michelle's <--click hat. Will start on the decreases next. I may do that during the day as it does require a bit of an active brain cell, and generally by the time I get upstairs to knit, active brain cells are at a premium and I generally use them for breathing and the like. Oh, and on one of the knitting boards, some one wanted to get rid of a bunch of acrylic yarn to be used for charity. So I PMed her and she just answered....I got the yarn. So, Michelle, I have more yarn to make more hats!

Do y'all feel it's common courtesy to make a comment on every blog you read regularly? Or only when you have something to say? I notice on message boards and groups there are so many "requisite" comments: "How cute." "Very nice." "Pretty."

Arpil 5, 2007

Met my challenge!

Here's the hat after I over dyed it with orange KA. I don't know how much snow is in the area this hat will go to, but bright or dark colored hats are always preferred to help keep an eye on kids in snow! So, it's bright!

I met my challenge from yesterday: Got my socks and a new Michelle <--click hat CO. In fact I had a bit of knitting time upstairs, and I got a good 3 inches done on the hat. Pics when it's finished!

Using Lamb's Pride WW Super wash (which is more like a fingering yarn IMHO) I cast on a nice purple sock. Got the cuff and a round or two done. I've been looking seriously at the Horcrux Socks (based on a magical item in the last Harry Potter book). I tried a stitch pattern similar to his on my own and failed miserably yet again. I really don't think knitting fancy socks will ever be my forte. (On a side note, to those sock knitters that do the lace patterns, do they run smaller in sizes? I've seen a lot of people online discussing different patterns and finding they need to CO more sts than they generally do with the same yarn and same needles. Anyone else find this true?) Anyway, the stitch pattern on these is a multiple of five. I've CO 48 sts, so adding two or decreasing three is no big thing.... Mine of course, wouldn't have all the additional ribbing, which I don't particularly like anyway.

BTW, I've been meaning to share this link for the click--> Basic Sock Chart with all you sock knitters. Silver of the infamous Silver's Sock Class <--click shared it on the
click--> Knittinghelp.com forum It's got just about all the information on needs to make socks from any weight yarn and for any size.

OH OH OH! Guess what? There is no standing water in my back yard this morning!!!!!!!!!! I told you the water was left running all night Tuesday night...well it was still running at 1:30 pm on Wednesday. So over to the Office we trotted. She sent the maintenance man over to turn off the water and take the handle off the spigot! The kids had been filling up a chest freezer in their back yard and using it for a swimming pool.... :::heavy sigh::: Anyway, now they don't have water in their back yard.....and neither do I. Today is the first day of spring vacation for the local school district, which means they will be home for five days. Perhaps my grands will be able to go out back tomorrow to a relatively dry yard. OTOH, that's five days of unsupervised "fun" the kids next door will have.