Sockcess

My DH, otherwise known as P.A. (no, he's not my Personal Assistant..............but there's time!) well, he arrived home from his most recent trip (did I mention that he travels ALL the time?), anyway, he finally got home just in time to witness the completion of my Two-At-A-Time socks.

He thought they looked wierd (huh?) but then clarified his statement by adding that it was the technique that looked wierd, not the result. The result has the entire house coveting my feet, especially as snow has hit us once again. Just as it seemed that the crocuses might get a clean run through March, they're now subject to a winter blizzard.

My feet are toasty warm though!

I have to say that it was fantastic to finish both socks at the same time. For a moment I felt like there was something missing, then I realised.....no Second Sock Syndrome! No sinking of the soul (or should I say sole ;-) at the realisation that the project is only half finished; no struggling to get that second one done; no mismatched pairs. It was worth the slower progress just to have that sense of completion at the end.

While I was in a productive mood, I also finished the Magic Loop socks. I enjoyed using this technique, but in future I think I'll knit them with the instep stitches on one side of the loop and the sole stitches on the other. I didn't like making my toe decreases in profile. It worked perfectly well, but I preferred doing it at the beginning and end of each row as I did with the Two-At-A-Time technique.

There are so many different ways to knit socks these days, thanks to the tremendous advances in circular needle technology over the past few years. I'm really rather enjoying discovering which method suits me.

For more information on sock knitting techniques, check out the following books:

"Socks Soar On Two Circular Needles" by Cat Bordi

"Knitting Circles Around Socks" by Antje Gillingham

"The Magic Loop" by Bev Galeskas (based on Sarah Hauschka's invention)

"2-at-a-time Socks" by Melissa Morgan-Oakes

Take a look online at "Knit Wiki" for details about Magic Loop.

Video at "Knitting Help" and YouTube.

Look at "TechKnitting" for the theory of knitting seamless tubes.

Foot Fetish

I've developed a foot fetish. It all started last week when I happened to notice that this year's long, cold winter was causing havoc with my handmade socks. I have been wearing them so much that they're beginning to look rather worn. The prospect of breaking out the double points to make some more pairs, was less than exciting, so I decided to embark on the infamous "Magic Loop" technique.

I recently received a copy of Bev Galeskas booklet "The Magic Loop - Working Around On One Needle" from Knitpicks (along with some delicious yarn for a shawl) so I got it out and cast on with some Reggio sock yarn from my stash.

Wow, what a great approach to sock knitting! My socks have flown along. I've made them cuff down and just concentrated on the technique (no pattern details used this time.) Then on Saturday night, I met up with my fellow knitting cohorts to celebrate our group's first anniversary. We had a wonderful evening, drinking, eating, knitting and listening to live music in a downtown bookstore. The evening was topped off with a draw for door prizes and I was lucky enough to win this book:

Guess who had to cast on as soon as she got home?!!!

Sock Humour

Humourous moments are what keeps our lives on a steady keel. I had one such moment this week when I went for my annual physical. Now, the doctor's office is not usually a place where I have a lot to smile about, but this time it was different.

When you have a full health check-up, you have to strip down to nothing and put on one of those awful gowns that gape open at the back showing your derriere to the world. The only things you can keep on are your socks.

I was wearing two pairs that day; one white cotton and the outer layer a simple handknit pair made from self-stripe yarn - Reggio by Gjestal. They had been a relatively quick knit, made as they had been not for me, but for my daughter and designed to be practical not ornate.

As I climbed up on to the examination table in my homemade, slightly too large, multi-coloured socks (DD2 is a shoe size 8 and I'm a 6), the doctor was totally enamoured of my socks. In fact, she loved them so much that she pointed them out to the attending nurse!

It was enough to make a grown woman blush (or at least smirk silently to herself!)

Socks..... and seasonal savories.

I'm coming down with a cold. I've already drunk four cups of tea and it's only 10.30 am. My nose is dripping and my head feels as if it's about to explode, so I think I have a hot date with my PJ's this weekend.
Creativity has not been diminished though. Last weekend I took receipt of a box of yarn from Canada. It's always so exciting, even although I know exactly what's in there because I ordered it. I just love to take out the balls of yarn, luxuriate in their texture and dream about the projects that I have planned for them. In this case it's hats.

I'm doing well on The Little Guy's socks too. I have chosen to just do a basic stockinette with the Reggio sock yarn, keeping it quick and simple so that I can get back to my hats.

My sister loved the baby blanket, which arrived safely in the UK by mail at the beginning of the week. It was surprisingly quick. My mum even called to say she'd seen it and what a beautiful keepsake it is. They all adore it. I am hugely proud of it and very happy to be able to express the love I have for the niece that I've never met, in such a personal way.

Tomatoes are still flowing in the garden. I'll be picking the last of them over the weekend I think. I've managed to make two quarts of pasta sauce this week and I have more tomatoes soaking in hot water (to remove their skins) as I write.

In the mean time, I think I'll be curling up on the sofa with a box of tissues, a movie and some knitting. Mind you, it is football season and I do enjoy watching a good game. I just have to be careful that I don't stab myself with my knitting needles when things get too exciting!

Until next week,

Keep clickin'

Small Projects And Time Management

I've finished the Chameleon hat and it looks great! It's a wonderful pattern and can be worn in many different ways. You just choose how you want to fold the brim. I decided that I wanted to create a cloche hat style and so folded the hat up higher on one side than the other before I blocked it. The reversable pattern makes it look so effective folded this way. The Frog Tree yarn is beautifully soft and was fine to work with. I really love the look of this hat and will certainly be making more.

I've also finished another Hope hat just in time for it to go off to Tanzania this weekend. The bright green and gold colours are sure to delight an African child.

Meanwhile I've cast on again for those Reggio sock yarn socks that my son has been asking me to make him for the past year. I think he'll be getting them for Christmas. Yes, time is flying and so my thoughts have turned to all those projects I want to get done for Christmas. To narrow them down (and maintain my focus) I'm just going to knit for those I truely love and who appreciate my handmade items. Otherwise I end up stressed out on projects for others and my nearest and dearest have to wait.

Have a good week everyone and 'Keep Clicking!'

Finished Odessa!

I've finished the Odessa hat (just got to block it). Loved every minute of it. This is the first time I've knitted with beads and I think I'll do more as it's very effective. The yarn was great to work with. Not a particularly dainty yarn, but used with this pattern, it has made a warm hat with a feminine look to it.

Now I am looking for a suitable sock pattern to fulfill my son's desire for another pair made from Reggio Exclusive by Gjestal. He loves the black and cream twisted sock yarn #701. I have been making socks for my kids with this yarn for several years now, but fancy branching out with a different pattern.

Wish me luck!