Warning: this post contains violent images and may not be suitable for young children, knitters squeamish at the sight of unravelled yarn, and small pets.
Now you see it...
Now you don't!!
I know, I know...how could I kill a poor innocent sock in cold blood like that!! Was I mad?! Did Abby and Brandy both leaving me deserted finally drive me crazy. The sock wasn't hurting anyone, just sitting there minding its own business and then...oh the horror
I finally finished this seemingly neverending much hated sock...only to continue loathing it with all my being. I loathed it while knitting because it was a pain to knit...had to watch every second, easy to split the stupid yarn, hard pattern...but I thought it will all be worth it when it's done. It wasn't.
The sock has huge flaws, HUGE. I tried to wear it around to bond with it. I tried to place it in lovely settings that would show it to advantage. I even showed it to Brandy as if I liked it, remarking on its virtues and saying things like "I'm sure the extra space in the toe will shrink up a little when I wash it". But to no avail. The sock is too big while at the same time having significant skin show through and weird conditions like that should not be allowed to exist. 
Perhaps I would have accepted it if this was the end of the project, if I could have given the sock to someone I marginally like and don't often see, if I could have moved on. But no, there is a second sock to make and, here's the kicker, I didn't write down anything I did on this sock while I knit it. So I'd have to investigate the hated sock to figure out what I did to make me hate it so much and then do it again!!! My moral "fiber" isn't that strong.
But up from the ashes we see...
Hope blooms eternal. We shall name the sock Pheonix (even though nothing about the new planned design has anything to do with that:-)
In other news, here's the orange sweater made from that Debbie Bliss Cathay I scored on our last yarn store crawl. I was able to make it using only the orange instead of the two colors together. I'm really pleased except that did make it a little short I think and thus the placement for the rows of purls stiches falls a little higher that I think looks right. But Mark and my mom both liked it as is. For awhile we had a little problem with the neckline rolling down in the front to show a bit more of jennyk than was intended. Elastic thread is a joy, that's all I'm sayin'.
Note: My next post will contain no violence of any kind unless something really bad goes wrong with the sweater innocently blocking on the bed in the background of the last picture. I think we all know what I'm capable of now so let's consider everyone fairly warned.
Death of a Sock...
Anniversary Afghan
My parents were married on March 1, 1980. That means I've missed their anniversary by 4 months and 16 days...and counting. The afghan is almost done, as you can see. I need some input on the fringe: should I do tassels or knots? I can't decide...though I think tassels will be easier for some reason. Any ideas?
Apartment photos will be coming soon...
A home for socks...
As you know, I've had a lot of free time on my hands. This is unfortnately not true for my dad, who has spent the summer working full time, helping on the farm, and being the director of our annual Vacation Bible School as well as preparing the house/grounds for the big dual-graduation party. I guess after the party and VBS were over, he was feeling surprisingly generous with his time because I convinced him that he should design and construct some sock holders! Now, this first example is a special one he made just for me (notice the special lathe work).
The rest of them, from which Jen and Brandy will be choosing one for themselves, look more like this:
I have a variety of woods and stains to choose from - it's hard to pick from the pictures so hopefully when I see you again I will have them with me and you can pick one for yourself. As you can see, my sock is already snuggled into it's new home and is very happy to be there.
I was going to surprise you with them next time I saw you, but I just couldn't wait that long! Hope to see you soon!!!
no excuse
I realize I'm the only one of the three who has absolutely no excuse for not blogging. Brandy off in the wilds of Texas, Abby fighting it out with crazy landlords, understandably no blogging...but me, woman of leisure, teaching one measly class, attempting to look like she's trying to keep up with the literature in her field when really she's just knitting with a book open in front of her, yeah, no excuse!! So here I offer ONE of the things I'm working on. To follow up on the bathmat for Rhonda's house, I'm also making lace curtains, LACE CURTAINS?!?!, what was I on when I promised that!!! Anyway here are the test swatches for the main part and the edging up the center...
I was terribly displeased at first. The lace seemed so chucky. It's Euroflax which is sport weight or smaller but it still ain't lace weight. I toyed with breaking down and using lace weight for about two seconds before I realize that it would take the next ten months of my life. I do intend to knit real lace one of these days...but not today. I've grown to like the boldness of doing lace in this weight...I hope Rhonda sees it that way too!!! Here's a picture of the knobbly, wobbly stuff as it grows from my needle into a curtain. I can't believe how much wet blocking does for lace. I mean you can see how uninspiring the stuff is before blocking just by looking at Max' face...can't get much more unenthused than that. Of course it could also have to do with the fact that he was taking a lovely nap on the bed and I skootched him out of the way to use the bedspread for the photos. Spoiled spoiled spoiled!!!
For those astute viewers, you do realize that I have to figure out how I'm going to make the lovely edge pattern reverse so it will look the same going up the center of the other curtain...yeah I'm choosing to ignore it...
I've been busy!
I've had lots of time to knit now that school is out. My goal was to finish the scarf before starting the baby blanket. I finished it today! Here it is:
and, here it is being modeled by a pregnant lady after a nap (no snickers please):
It really took me longer than I expected it but I like the way it turned out. Anyway, after I finished admiring it I promptly put it away with the other winter scarves. I can't wait for a chilly day to show it off!
Having finished the scarf, I could now start the baby blanket. Here's the cast-on with the first three knitted rows. This way when I see Jen tomorrow we can get started right away on learning the color change. (I already checked and Elizabeth Zimmerman doesn't tell us how.)
Finally, am I allowed some small baby talk on this blog? They say that babies move most at night because during the day our movements rock the baby to sleep. That seems strange to me, but it seems true. It is also true that Jen's tea and tiramisu tend to make the baby very active -- can't imagine why! Anyway, the baby seems very still while I knit. I guess it is enough movement to put it to sleep. Or maybe the baby is already learning to be quiet when mommy is counting rows? One can always hope right?
a flower by any other name...
Isn't it pretty?! Now what is it, right? It's a graph of our blog!! There is a neat program at http://www.aharef.info/static/htmlgraph/ where you can turn any webpage into a graph. It explains what the colors mean but the really cool part is watching the flower happen because it bursts and grows! Go check it out and let me know what you think!!
Hot summer weather got you down? Make an alpaca sweater...
That is the provisional cast on for my sleeve after two botched attempts at getting both the provisional part right and the number of cast on stitches right. Usually, when I have a pattern I try to do things the way they say. In this case, I went with their provisional cast on instead of one that I find to be easier, a crocheted cast on. Obviously, I should have just stuck with good ol' crochet. Here's the beginning of the sleeve after I reverted to the crocheted cast on:
In other happy news, my mom tells me that there is a farm just a few miles from here that sells alpaca yarn. I haven't made it over there yet, but it's definitely on my to-do list. I'll post results from that shopping spree when I have them. Also, I don't think I told you that I got a car! It's a 2003 Jetta, black with leather interior and sunroof. A very nice car, way nicer than I ever imagined I would get but it only has 32,000 miles on it and has like 3 years of factory warranty left. My parents were willing to pay more for the added peace of mind since I'm living so far away. It's a wonderful car, I really love it. Pictures will be posted probably at the same time as my new apartment pics. Ok, one last thing. I'll be in Balto on June 30 and maybe even the 29th if you guys are going to be around. I'm moving on the 1st so the days before it I'm just going to close up my bank accounts and make sure everything is packed and ready to go. That's it for now - I've been planting flowers and painting all day and I am BEAT. Time for a shower and bed!
Does God knit?
Jen asked for a copy of this cartoon a long time ago. I'm posting it here so you can both have a copy if you like. For the record, it is from the October 24,2005 New Yorker.
Jen, I was hoping to meet up at Hometown Girl for a treat today but so far I am stuck near the phone so I can send Caleb documents if necessary.
Pie crust promises...
...they're easily made and easily broken. So I spent my time finishing this bathmat instead of figuring out the scanner! Oh well, I'll do it sometime. I wanted this done because it is for my Aunt Rhonda's newly restored 1800's farm house and I will hopefully see her and the house again this Sunday. The bath is fantastic, complete with an old tub and great tile. This mat should go nicely. I'll take a picture of it "installed" so you can see how it looks.
Doesn't that just look yummy?! Can't you just feel your wet warm toes wiggling in that after a hot bath! Made from 100% pure cotton - absorbent absorbent absorbent! So thirsty just looking at it makes me want a drink...ok I'm sounding like an ad executive so I'm going to quit.
Hey Max, off the bathmat already!!!
Who me?!
does this count?!
Don't know why I feel the need to post these two projects; I've had them done for several months now. I might have even showed you both the little purple one; it's been done since January. I'm afraid it looks rather gray in the picture. But I was really proud to get it off the needles because I had started it when we still lived in the Hawthorne house. It's Debbie Bliss and it's Baby Cashmerino which I have a deep and abiding love for that cannot be spoken.
The little sleeveless top was for my cousin Terry and his wife Sonya. I had it done at Easter and even took it home to leave for Mom to take to Sonya's shower but then had this idea that I wanted a book or a cute pair of tights or panties to go with it and brought it home. The shower was the same week's as my brother's wife's (Loree's) shower but did I remember to take it then? Did I remember to mail it as soon as I got back here? Did the baby come and I still hadn't given them the present that had been finished for months? Only one of those three questions has an affirmative answer...I'll let ya' figure it out.
I have pictures from Loree's shower with the knitted gifts. I'd like to post the one of the little dog because when I showed it to you guys it didn't look much like the finished pup! I'm going to try to learn how our scanner works and see if I can scan in the picture and post it. Making this blog declaration will pressure me to do it!