Let's try this again

I am obviously a very bad blogger. Four widely-spaced posts, and then nothing for more than three years. That's just sad. So I've decided to try again and see if I can do any better this time. Maybe someone will read it, or maybe not. But the possibility that something I write or show could help or entertain another fiber geek makes me feel it's worth giving it another go. I've gotten lots of enjoyment and education out of other people's blogs, so I'd like to try to give something back. I've also been doing a lot of knitting lately, and this is a good place to share it.

My latest project is a pair of Vampire Boyfriend socks. I've wanted to make them forever but couldn't find exactly the right color of yarn (and it had to be exactly right. How could I accept anything less for a tribute to my secret vampire love?) Fortunately, I finally stumbled across Cascade Heritage in Red. It's precisely what I envisioned - not orangey or too bright, and not too dark. Perfect!

So after my long wait, I got the yarn a couple of weeks ago. Then I wouldn't let myself start them. I was trying to be disciplined and finish other projects first. I was also having bad knitting juju. Seemed like everything I touched turned to poop. I couldn't do anything right. I was afraid if I started them it would be a disaster, and I would have been crushed.

That finally seems to have cleared up, and I couldn't resist casting them on at 1AM this morning, when I should have been in bed. I only knitted half a round, but it was enough to appease the gnawing sock-beast within. I should finish my Pogona tonight, but I have a feeling the beast will demand more Vampire Boyfriend. And you can't argue with the sock-beast.

Patience is a virtue

Being a Big Girl requires extraordinary dedication to any largish project, like a sweater. It's really kind of a drag. The project I couldn't wait to start becomes the bane of my existence. The yarn I loved to the point of distraction becomes hateful. I realized that this is why I am obsessed with socks, hats, mittens and assorted accessories. I can usually finish them before I get bored silly - I have the attention span of gnat. Okay, that's kind of harsh. More like a chipmunk. On a good day.

Case in point: I started knitting plain black socks for the husbeast Friday night (yeah, my life is really that exciting). This is the first pair I've ever done two at a time on two circular needles. I've always gone the old school dpn route. So I'm knitting along, and I find that I'm starting to get more and more annoyed because they don't seem to be getting any longer. Logically, I understand that they are growing more slowly because I'm doing both at the same time. You know, two socks = twice as long to get to the heel turn. Elementary, right? Yet somehow this doesn't appease the Beast of Impatience within. I toil onward just the same.

Maybe it would help if he would accept something besides plain black in plain stockinette. Actually, he will - but not for work. He will only wear interesting socks at home. Even black with any texture is "too flashy". Like anyone ever sees them anyway! He likes his pants to be long enough to sort of sit on the tops of his shoes. He's like some Victorian lady - baring an ankle (even sock-encased) would be scandalous. He's a hoot.

I have some recent FO's that I still have to take photos of (I got a new camera for Christmas - yay!). I completed a Piggle, a Wavy scarf and a Stellina hat, all in a bright red superwash merino. I am fully armed for winter! And unfortunately, it looks like I will have plenty of opportunities to use them...

No more photos.....

At least not for a while. My camera died on Sunday evening. Very distressing, considering it's not even 2 years old! And I had things to share.....

I finished Sivia Harding's Journey Cable socks on Sunday. I used JaWoll in bright orange (o159). I enjoyed the pattern, and they turned out very well, if I do say so myself. This is the second sock in progress:


The pattern is sized for babies and women's medium and large. However, the husbeast really liked them and wants a pair. I'm not sure if I'm going to alter the pattern or just knit them on bigger needles. He doesn't have giant feet, so it shouldn't be too difficult.

I got my order from KnitPicks on Wednesday. Yarn joy! I ordered Essential in the new Peacock Multi, and Felici in Pebble and Arugula. I'm on a sock jag. Which is what lead to the other item in my order: 6 sets of nickel plated dpn's in sock-appropriate sizes. I know it sounds excessive, but, but.... it was a really good price, and they came in a set, and I never have enough little needles and I JUST WANTED THEM, OKAY?! All right, so I'm a little defensive about the needle stockpiling thing. I also thought, "What if I hate them? Now I have 6 sets to hate." I've never been a big fan of metal needles - I'm more of a bamboo girl. Not anymore. I love them, I love them, I love them! Awesome, fabulous, wunderbar. I knit like the wind. I can't believe I've been missing out all this time. Imagine all the FO's I could have had...

Seriously, they are great needles. Especially for the price, which averaged out to about $5 a set. They are smooth as glass, and have a nice balance to them. They have some weight without being heavy, and they have a solid feel to them, which I like. I have a tendency to hold my needles very tightly (okay, it's a death grip). This can cause annoying warping in bamboo needles, and in lighter metal ones. While this doesn't seem to affect the knitting, it offends my sensibilities. Best of all, these babies are FAST. I cast on Grumperina's Jaywalker socks in the Peacock early on Wednesday evening. By the time I went to bed last night I had finished the heel and gusset and was into the foot. Amazing. Two evenings and I'm 3/4 of the way through a sock. I am not generally a lightening-fast knitter (something which makes me a little self-conscious), but these needles have turned me into The Flash. I will definitely be purchasing more. I'm thinking about buying the Options set. I love my Denises, but you can never have too many needles.

As for the yarn, I'm diggin' it. I'm never too sure about colorways. I can be very picky and I am often disappointed, but this is really nice. Deep, saturated shades of purple, green and teal. Lovely if you like those colors, and truly peacock-like. Since I have a thing about peacocks, it's perfect.

 A peacock, just for fun: