Sock Down! (and Done)

There was a sock mishap.

This


became this


when I realized that sock was too small. Now I'm waiting to cast-on again while I try to figure out if adding 8 stitiches will be enough, or should I add 16? The pattern does not allow for any give, so I'll confess to being a tiny bit paranoid.

But in other news, I designed my own sock! (OK, closer to how not to design a sock, but I'm still rather pleased with myself.)


These went really fast (US size 4 needles will do that). I also wasn't sure of yardage, so I made the leg a little shorter than normal.


Note to self: When creating your very own sock pattern, stop and think ahead before the knitting (which is where I did most of the actual thinking about the pattern.) If I'd been thinking, I'd have set the leg pattern up so it would have worked on the instep without too much jarring. What I did to clease the palate was one repeat of Undulating Rib, which I love, but didn't really work. Although there was a cool effect that I want to remember to play with someday.


I love how the instep turned out, though. (Not shown to best effect on a bottle, but you get the idea.)


Eye of partridge (eye of peacock?) heel which is also on the toe. I also love the garter stitch on the heel flap. These features where inspired by Cider Moon's Saucy pattern. And I think they work in this yarn (Fiesta Yarns Boomerang in Iris) really well.

I have since washed the socks, and I'm thinking I'd probably go down a needle size next time, but the Boomerang was a great yarn to work with! And I loved the designing part, so I'd like to keep up with that. But I need to knit some other socks to get a feel for different structures. Right now, I'm doing my knitting for The Loopey Ewe's Quarterly Challenge. One pair of handwarmers down and I've started a baby hat.

Distractions

Oooo, looky! I'm blogging!! Will wonders never cease? (I hope not. I need wonder in my life. Soon it'll be all I can afford.)

So, yes, a little discouraged by my complete inability to manage money. Or food. Or exercise. Or anything that is considered to be a sign of a responsible adult, so I will distract myself and everyone else with photos of knitting accomplishments.

First up, finished items:


Clapotis in Malabrigo Amorosa
This only took about 2 years. I may be over my Clapotis addiction. This will be a gift for someone.


Finished pair of socks #1. These took less than a year. (Funny story: Last year, in July, after a 4 month knitting vaccation, I decided I wanted, no, I needed, to knit wool socks. I had 13 pairs going. Made the first of each in about 2 weeks I'm still working on the second socks. Only 2 pairs left to go, though. To be totally accurate, I had two pairs of socks started before I added the other 11. Gidgie stop laughing. I can hear you in Seattle. Where I currently am.)
Art Yarns Supermerino #105. This is my favorite colorway, I have it in 3 other variations of their yarns, too. (No, I'm not obsessive at all. Why would you ask? Gidgie, I mean it about the laughing.)


Finished 2nd pair of socks. Interlacements Toasty Toes in Poppy Fields. I love the orange in these socks, but it must be said that there is a lot of dye still in there. I soaked these 3 times after wearing and they still bled a little in the wash.


Third pair of finished socks. Black Cat Yarns Sock Hop in Mai Tai (Sorry, I got this yarn on eBay but the store and its website are no longer there.) These socks I wish I had knit on smaller needles. Because I have concerns about their durablitity, they are bedtime socks. (I live in Minnesota. My toes get cold in the winter months. Why am I explaining this?)

Next up, a couple of in progress items:


Because on my birthday last year (it's September 28th; I know you wanted to know that so you could mark your calendars), I decided I needed more socks to work on (it was my birthday, I can do whatever silly thing I want to), I started these. Mountain Colors Twizzle in Mountain Tango. This is a wool/silk blend, so I planned these for comfort socks. They are currently in my office at work for when I really need to destress.


Ever wonder how much knitting you can do on a flight from the Twin Cities? Most of the leg of a sock you're designing. Fiesta Yarns Boomerang in Iris. I love this yarn! I love this color. I'll try and remember to get a better picture tomorrow.

And just because:




The lovely ladies at Cider Moon keep sending samples with my orders. They're so pretty!

Forgive me, but I don't actually have time for a spell check right now.

About Last Night

Dear Stephanie,


Just wanted to say Thank You for last night. (And a big Bravo! to The Yarnery for a wonderful event. I love the bag.) I enjoyed the stories and the whole CHOKE thing, well, let's just say that will be my new thing to get the muggles off my back: "You're CHOKing me!" Of course, I might be forced to remember what CHOKE stands for. Cultural and Historical Oppression of Knitters Everywhere? (Why, oh why didn't I take notes?! Oh, right, I was knitting.) Anyway, that looks close enough. And I left pondering the importance of Accumulated Effect, a concept I had been taking for granted. Now I recognize its power.

I do want to apologize though for my behavior upon reaching the table. I am a shy girl, but I know that there is no need to go all fangirly when in the presence of one's idols. I know that "idols" and "heroes" are ordinary people, too, and as such, my equals. So, I can only explain my total inability to make eye contact and forgetting my book on the table to this: I was possessed by a frightened woodland animal.

Now, I realize that seems a bit out there, but hear me out. It was a long night. (Longer, I'm sure, for you.) I got there at 5:45pm, armed with coffee, water and a light snack. Stood in line for 15 minutes until the doors opened. Got my hand stamped and grabbed a seat. Knit for an hour. You came out and made with the funnies. Laughed and knitted on my Interlacements Toasty Toes sock for another hour and fifteen minutes.

Got up again and made my way to the line for the early signing. Stood in line for an hour and a half. Thank god for knitting! As someone next to me in line said, nicest line ever because we all had something to do. I wish someone had done a sock count, though. The line was good, and I made quite a bit of progress on my Fleece Artist Sea Wool Bordello sock.


(I should, perhaps, pause here to tell you that I have recently begun knitting again. We had been on a break.)

Now, I should say that the line was fun. I met a number of nice women from North Dakota. Good times.

Anyway, standing around for an hour and a half with no real food does not do the body good. Mary Lou tried to help by bringing around chocolate. Now, normally I'd call this behavior evil, but no sane person can call another evil when she gives you sock yarn just for pulling out the blue-wrapped chocolate.

So, the combination of the wool fumes (oh, I forgot to mention the mini-store), exhaustion for standing for an hour and it being 10pm by the time I got to you, worry about getting home to the cats

(I had said I should be home by 9pm) and existing at that moment on sugar . . . well, it left me vulnerable to outside forces.

So that should explain it. You did a very good job of trying to connect, but the frightened animal in my body just wanted to use that flight reflex. Sorry. I will endeavor to protect against such possessions in the future. Just as soon as I figure out how to.

I would like to take this opportunity to tell you what I would have told you had I not been possessed by a frightened animal:

The whole whiplash syndrome you covered in the book, that was extremely helpful. I was in my second break from knitting after a frantic Christmas knitting season. I was wondering if I had lost the joy of knitting forever. But it was just Whiplash! I was so relieved. And I'm being careful about the rebound stash enhancement. This Zen Yarn Garden merino/bamboo/nylon in Sunny Orchid notwithstanding.

(Or those four or five other orders on the way.) But I digress. The Whiplash syndrome in Casts Off saved my relationship with knitting.

Thank you! Keep up the good work.


Sincerely,
Alexis

PS An addendum to that note I gave you last night. The one you put in your back pocket. I laughed so hard last night I snorted.

Becuase I can

Knitting Update

In no particular order:

Malagaiters

For: Best Friend
Yarn: Malabrigo Forest
Knit: 1 Jan - 7 Jan 2007

and


For: Mom
Yarn: Malabrigo Blue Surf
Knit: 8 Jan - 10 Jan


For: Me!
Pattern: My basic sock
Yarn: Blue Moon Fiber Arts Socks That Rock heavy weight in Lucy
Knit: 8 Oct 2006 - 7 Jan 2007


For: Sister-in-law
Pattern: Basic 4 Needle Mitten
Yarn: BlueMoonFiberArts Worsted Wear in Aubergine/Eggplant and Cascade 220 Navy
Knit: 12 Jan - 22 Jan 2007

OK, so the knitting mojo seems to have run off to Tahiti again. I just wish that it would take me with it. I am currently working on a gift for my cousin's baby, though.

Randomness on a Sunny Day

I thought about doing a knitting update, but I haven't really been knitting. So instead, Marble demonstrates that there was indeed snow:



And we are both grateful that did not fall down on her (or me while I was shoveling off the deck):

Weight Loss Wednesdays

Welcome support group friends who have just joined the blog! In the interest of greater accountability (and blogging material), I've moved my updates here.

So, as I said yesterday, I've been struggling to lose weight for going on three years now. Before, I lived in a happy denial place, only trying to lose weight because it's a socially acceptable thing to do. I'm stunned by how good at hiding from myself I was. It's . . . humbling.

I had struggled with weight pretty much all my life. I wasn't a particularly active child, but looking back, I wasn't a heavy child, either. Frankly, I'd love to be back to the weight I thought was fat as a teenager. After college, I just sort of hid and ate. I told my parents I'd go to Weight Watchers if I could afford it. They gave me ten meetings for Christmas and I started in January 2005.

And I did OK that first year. I almost lost 20 pounds that first year. I got frustrated in June because the weight wasn't coming off fast enough, and I couldn't reach that first 10% goal. I gained about 10 pounds back in the second half of the year.

Late November or December, a family friend mentioned my jeans looked loose. I said thank you, but that they always end up feeling tight by the end of the day. She suggested that I might have food sensitivity. The two most troublesome foods are gluten and dairy. I gave it some serious thought. Giving up gluten (in wheat, oats, barely, spelt, couscous, rye and some other stuff I can't recall) and dairy meant not eating anything I normally ate. But I needed away to recommit to my weight loss, and thought this might be a good way to do it. I really thought that the cravings would get me, but I researched and planned.

And was successful. I lost over 40 pounds last year. I got to 60 pounds lost for a grand total. That was a struggle at the end, though. I started to get frustrated in the summer, especially at the family reunion week, and just coasted down the hill from there. I'd gained 9.6 pounds back in 2 months.

Although, I've lost 2.4 pounds of it.

So, what have I learned? Eating the (mostly) unprocessed foods on my "restricted" diet last year helped me to feel my best. I felt lighter and energized. I even got downright giddy some days. I even wanted to move. I want that back. So, I'm glad I've recommitted. And I'm glad you're all here to support me. I probably wouldn't have gotten very far without you.

And to mark just how far I've come, here I am before:



And here I am now:


(Err, sorry about the rotation. I can't figure out how to fix it.)

And, for fun, Osiris:

Recommitting

I've been thinking these last six weeks about what I want to accomplish in 2007. As I've said before, I plan big, but without much foundational support, and then my card house comes tumbling down in the slightest breeze. I spend the rest of my time lamenting my failure, until I realize that all the cards have blown away, and then I exhaust myself chasing them down. That is the ultimate pattern I would like to break this year. And to do it, I'm only going to focus on 3 things, instead of trying to change my whole universe at once.

1) My weight. I am entering my third year at Weight Watchers. Last year went pretty well. I hit a total of 60 pounds lost (which was just a bit past halfway), and then I ran out of steam. I haven't been able to get back on track since. I'm tired of writing down what I eat, looking up POINTS values, and feeling guilty when I don't. So, I want to finish the weight loss this year. I have a wedding to go to in June. Let's see how well I do.

2) Overspending. I do a lot of it. Mostly on a credit card. Which leads to much stress and a fear of bills. Bills, like taxes and death, are unavoidable. So, I propose to live my life without a credit card this year, working on the theory that credit cards are easier to pay off when their balances are not being added to.

3) Stopping the brain drain. I really feel my brain is starting to atrophy. I can barely think coherently, much less think critically. And I like to think. So, I'm going to read books and watch TV and movies with mindfulness, if not a critical eye. I will journal more and share my observations with you. I will share my passions and embrace my inner geek-girl. (She's very self-conscious and shy.)

I'll be exporing ways to stay on track, and suggestions are also appreciated.

And now for the gratuitous kitty pictures.

Part 2

I did not get all my presents knit in time. Why? 1) I plan big. 2) I have poor time management skills. I feel particularly horrible about these two.


Pattern: Fiber Trends Felted Clogs
Yarn: Cascade 220 #7601 Sage Tweed and Araucania Nature Wool #42
Needles: 13 and 11 24" circs
Size: Woman's small
Knit for: My very patient grandmother


Pattern: Hello Yarn Besotted Scarf
Yarn: Malabrigo Merino Worsted Applewood
Needles: 8 straights
Notes: It's around 50 inches long
Knit for: My grandfather. I wanted him wrapped in hugs and kisses.

Here's a detail of the cabling.

I thought it came out pretty well.

I'm still going on the knitting. My mother's felted clogs still loom over my head like a big fuzzy umbrella, but in the meantime, here are gratutous kitty shots.




And, because she's back for another visit. . . .

What I've Been Up To

I've been knitting like mad for Christmas presents.


First, there were these.
Pattern: Miriam's Baby Hats
Yarn: Malabrigo Merino Worsted Indigo & Azul Profundo
Needles: 10 16" circs
Size: 1 year and Newborn
Knit for: Two of my friends' sons


Next up.
Pattern: Star Brocade Stocking from Knit Christmas Stockings
Yarn: Cascade 220 #9410 Celtic Green and #4010 Straw Heather
Needles: 6 16" circs
Knit for: My friend's daughter. Finished in plenty of time for Christmas, too.

Wanna see a close-up?



This one cut it close. I finished it while at coffee with the recipiant. Actually, I finished it while she shopped for yarn at The Bead Alley.
Pattern: Hand/Wrist Warmers from Last Minute Knitted Gifts
Yarn: Fiesta Yarns La Luz Bluebonnet
Needles: 6 DPN
Size: One
Notes: I add length and width. I also cast off with a larger needle.
Knit for: My good friend whose come home to me after being far away for years. (Come to think of it, she's still far away. Cross the Cities feels that way, anyway.)

Now, it was almost Christmas, and I was starting to panic. There was family to meet on Christmas Eve.

Pattern: Hand/Wrist Warmers from LMKG
Yarn: Art Yarns Supermerino #126 & #120 and Atacama #506
Size: one
Needles and Notes: See above
Knit for: My two aunts and my uncle


This got knit because my mother wears hats and the felted clogs I'd been promising her for years were not going to get done. I'd given her the yarn for those as a present last year, so I couldn't do that again. I finished this on Christmas Eve day. I love Last Minute Knitted Gifts. And I love my stash.
Pattern: Kim's Hats from LMKG
Yarn: Malabrigo Merino Worsted Cuarzo and Nore Transitions #7
Needles: 9 20" circs and 10 1/2 24"circs
Size: Largest
Notes: I probably should have decreased to a woman's size once I went to bigger needles, but it seems to work.
Knit for: My mother

Back soon with part 2

Exploration

Dear Mom & Dad,



I guess she couldn't take it anymore.



Instead of eating her breakfast, Marble had to go out and explore.



I don't think Luke and Leia knew what to make of it. They really didn't bother her. Well . . . Luke did try and get close, but Marble growled at him.



Then, she went on the deck.



She nibbled on the bird netting.

And she didn't want to go back into her room.

Daughter