shit gets hectic, and I forget to write anything for a month. Well, I have an excuse - preparing for AWA at the end of September. This required an entire weekend devoted to working on costumes before con.
There was also a lack of knitting... trying to take it easy on my arms - especially my left - so that I don't get it aching all the time to the point where I can't do anything. It's a bit better... but I keep overdoing it. The week before AWA, after sewing costumes and making buttons, it was murder. Felt like it should have been in a sling. I'm too young for that shit.
And then, Dulaan 2007 was announced. I already have two hats knitted, but I'm trying for a lot more. Of course that link button went up in the sidebar. I think I'm going to aim for 20 items.
I also managed to destash several skeins of yarn I was never going to use in an unexpected way. A friend of mine took a weaving class, so she got about 6 or 7 skeins of yarn that had been intended for a blanket I was never going to finish in addition to some novelty yarns that were leftovers from scarves and the like that I'd probably never have a use for. Well, I'm glad to be rid of them in a way that doesn't involve throwing them out. I just can't stand the idea of tossing something when more use can be had from it.
Finally, SOCKTOBERFEST. I joined last year, because I like making socks. In fact, the one thing I knit more than anything is socks. Socks are nice and mindless and zen, which is the sort of knitting I normally prefer. There are those who knit because they like the challenge of insane cables or tricky lace on tiny tiny needles and while I do occassionally have a desire to knit such things I more often like a simple, small, instant gratification project where I don't have to pay too much attention to what I'm doing. Socks are perfect - to make your basic sock, I don't need to consult a pattern. I can do toe-up, I can do cuff-down. I can do a flap heel or a short row. I can do a ribbed leg or sockinette with a rib cuff. Whatever, it's all good. I don't even like to go for fancy patterns with socks; I prefer to buy interesting yarn that appeals to me and let the colors do all the work.
So, in the spirit of Socktober, pictures. First, we have a pair of Cherry Tree Hill I finally finished after dawdling since the Blue month of Project Spectrum:
Call it 'still life with cat hair'. I wore these a few days ago, and I never remember the lesson 'Wash your new socks before wearing them, or you will end up with colorful feet'. Oops. The nail on my right big toe is still blue. Colorway was called something like Tropical Storm, I think.
Speaking of cat hair:
Fred Fredburger, the cat I got in July, does not like it when I knit. Or, rather, I guess she does, because she thinks the yarn is a delightful toy. The rest of the time? She tries to kill whatever I'm working on or will crawl in my lap or sit on my shoulder and stick her fuzzy ass in my face while begging for attention.
The object she was trying to kill? The Gryffindor scarf my sister wanted. Now in it's 9th repeat of the bar pattern, growing quickly. This thing is going to be 8 feet long before it's done, and I may need to order more maroon yarn. Eeergh.
But I digress - back to socks. I have 6 (!!) different socks on needles... and I don't even have anything on two of my sets of dpns. I'm kind of ADD like that.
Left to right: toe-up Opal Rainforest Angelifsh socks, toe-up Knitpicks Dancing - I bought a ton of this since they were liquidating it, and the cuff of Lion Brand magic stripes. I think I bought the lion brand sockyarn mostly because it was super-cheap at a craftstore that was having a going out of business sale. The colors aren't something I'd normally pick (except for the bright green) , but I'm not so picky I won't wear the socks I make from it. I also have to say I LOVE knitpicks' dancing and am sad that they're discontinuing the line. It's a good cotton/wool blend at a more than decent price. I bought 2 skeins of every color they still had in stock when I found out. They also discontinued parade, which was another line of their yarn I liked. Grr.
Left to right, once again: Knitpicks somethingorother in a razorshell lace pattern, plymouth sockotta that looks suspiciously like a Jaywalker but is NOT (I have an aversion to the pattern for several reasons, including it's rampant popularity) and a sparkly mexico disco sock. You can really see the sparkles in this picture. Also, the socks in the middle will most likely not be for me.
Finally, the host of Socktoberfest has put up a questionaire for participants:
- When did you start making socks? Did you teach yourself or were you taught by a friend or relative? or in a class?
In 2004, around Thanksgiving. I used the universal sock pattern, which I found online and purported to be a complete guide to making cuff-down socks even if you had no prior experience. I still use the basic pattern given to knit most of my socks. Like most of my knitting skills, it was self-taught.
- What was your first pair? How have they "held up" over time?
Have a picture. They've held up pretty well. There is some fading in the dye in some spots, and on the heels and feet you can see where they've darkened from the black insides of my work shoes, but they're in good shape. I also say they look like thanksgiving threw up on my feet, due to the color.
- What would you have done differently?
Not made as many mistakes, obviously. I've learned to get better at picking up stitches along the heelflap since then. However, for a first try at socks when I had only been knitting for about 3 months - and never before with dpns, they turned out well
- What yarns have you particularly enjoyed?
Ones that are a wool/cotton blend like Sockotta and Dancing. I like the way they feel and they're not as hot as ones with a higher wool content, which is nice when you live in florida. Some people say knitting with yarns that have cotton make their hands hurt, but my hands always hurt anyway, so I've never noticed any difference.
- Do you like to crochet your socks? or knit them on DPNs, 2 circulars, or using the Magic Loop method?
No crochet. I am no good at crochet. And I only use dpns on socks. I could learn 2 circs or magic loop, but why bother messing with a good thing? And as you can tell, I overwhelmingly prefer wood/bamboo needles to metal ones for sock knitting.
- Which kind of heel do you prefer? (flap? or short-row?)
I'm not particular. I usually do heel flap because that's the first way I learned, but I do like the short row, because once you're done turning, you're done - no messing with decreases and gusset stitches.
- How many pairs have you made?
I honestly don't really keep track. Not too long ago, I did a count and I figured it to be around 30 pairs. Not too bad for only 2 years of knitting socks, I say.
