Posts from — February 2009

Well, it’s not tomorrow, is it?

It’s just all these other *things* that keep demanding my attention. But here I am, now, with a little knitting story to share.

My little one, Liam, loves tankers. This is what he calls army tanks. A while ago, I dyed some yarn that looked just like the camouflage on a tanker. It sat in the shop until one day my little one said “mommy, can you make me some tanker socks?” and so the yarn came out of the shop and became the start of tanker socks. I took measurements, checked gauge and verified the correct cast-on number of stitches. I was flying with these socks and feeling quite proud of my progress.

I was loving the way the alchemy yarn was knitting up- into a perfect, random pattern that looked strikingly like real camouflage! After I got the heels turned, I asked Liam to come and see how they were fitting. “Wait, do you have your foot flexed? Maybe it’s because you just got out of the bath and your feet are wet. It– Should– Fit!”

But it didn’t. No way, no how. Liam was a real trooper when I told him that these socks, somehow, were too small for his precious feet and that mommy would have to knit him another pair after these were done. So, I kept knitting, knowing that I could find some little boy who would love the tanker socks as much as Liam would.

rip little top-down tanker socks

Last night, as I took my socks out of the bag to knit, I discovered that one of the needles had been pulled out of all of its stitches. Also, some of the stitches had begun to unravel down into the sock. This was not necessarily a fatal blow, but since they weren’t going to fit Liam anyway, and I didn’t have a particular little boy in mind for them, I decided to frog. I won’t say that it wasn’t a little painful to unravel a pair of socks that were over half finished, but it’s ok.

I’ll be knitting the same socks again, from the same yarn. However, this time, I’ll be knitting them from the toe up, and I’ll know for sure that they will fit before I knit all of that pattern stitch!

Nine days of school vacation. Two sick kids. Two papers due. ‘Nuf said.

Other than trying to get kids healthy, keep the house a notch above disgusting, get ready for a major shop update and write two papers that might eek out a B (NOT my usual standard- yes, I’m a perfectionist) I’ve not had time for much else that requires actual use of my brain.

my first handspun socks- yay!

Good thing for me that simple 2×2 ribbing is pretty mindless! Yep, I finished my falkland handspun socks and I must say that I’m in love. I’m also, unfortunately, completely addicted to the subtle color blending that develops while knitting socks with handspun yarn. Now if only I could afford an electric wheel for plying. My calves get quite the workout doing all that plying on my little kiwi!

my first 3-ply handspun sock yarn

Proof that I am genuinely addicted: I also did a test-spin for my new spinning fibers that will be up in the shop later this week. I could have done a nice bulky or worsted weight but no — I did more sock yarn! 450 glorious yards of 3-ply superfine superwash merino handspun sock yarn! I LOVE this yarn. It is unbelievably soft. I think it’s going to be mother’s day socks for my mom because she’s awesome. If she weren’t, there’s no way I’d be giving this yarn away!

Well, now I’ve really got to get labeling. It’s been fun, folks! I’ll be back hopefully tomorrow with some fun goodies to share!

superwash merino and seacell roving- yum!

Happy Valentine’s Day, folks! My husband and I are spending a day at home taking care of two sick little boys. It’s not exactly romantic, but it’s our life, and we love it.

My socks still have heels, and even a teeny bit of ribbing! I’ll try to take photos just as soon as I can find my sock-blockers.

On another note, I finally got a chance to dye up some of the lovely spinning fiber I got for the shop. I’m not sure when I’ll be updating again, but I’m excited! The superwash merino/seacell blend I got is absoultely dreamy.

yummy new yarn base!

I also got some new yarn bases to try. One is a sock weight superwash merino that is almost identical to louet gems. It has great squoosh, great sproing, great luster and it takes color beautifully! I’m definitely going to be carrying this yarn soon, as well as some new luxury blends. Stay tuned!

all the pretty colors!

Tomorrow I will be adding a TON of new sock yarn to the shop. How did I manage such a feat? I was a dyeing machine this weekend, and I had a great helper- my husband!

Today was a homework, housework and photographing day. Tomorrow will be more homework, sewing and hopefully dyeing. We’ll see!

Unfortunately, I haven’t had time to work on my handspun socks. That’s another item on my “hopefully” list for the week.

almost to the heels!

I’m making slow and steady progress on my handspun socks. I only have an inch to go before I turn the heels. I am loving the way this yarn is knitting up! Knitting with handspun is always like watching a magical process unfold.

I much prefer short-row heels. They go so much faster than heel flaps and I honestly like the look and feel of them better. I do not, however, like the fussiness of most of the short-row heel techniques out there.

I was absolutely elated when I discovered my favorite method- the one provided in the Lifestyle Socks Pattern from k1p1design1. The pattern author attributes the method to Priscilla Wilds. There are no wraps to pick up (yay!) and the method is simple enough that once you’ve learned it, you don’t need to refer to instructions. These, my friends, are my kind of short-row heels!

I’ll be in class all day tomorrow, so alas, no dyeing. I have 15 pounds of fiber calling to me and I can’t do a thing about it. I did manage a small shop update earlier this week, but there won’t be another major one until at least this weekend, probably later. Ah well, such is life when managing a family, two businesses, and a Liberal Arts degree.