Another Post about Socks

I kept my vow of knitting from stash for six months this year. Yes, it would have lasted longer had I not gone to Looped Yarn Works to get needles and stitch markers. However, I need blue socks to go with my blue shoes. I found a skein of Zitron XXL sans label and it’s hard to match colorways on the monitor so I’m out of luck. I didn’t want to match either the shoes or trousers I’d be wearing so I purchased a skein that is navy with blue-grey and turquoise in it.

My other purchase was a set of Knitter’s Pride Karbonz needles. They aren’t cheap, but they are light in hand and a dream to knit with.

I finally finished the Diagonal Rib socks. YaY!

Diagonal Rib Socks in Light Brown Hare Jackalope Kitten #2 colorway

In an effort to move out from plain vanilla socks, I settled on the Simple Skyp Socks pattern by Adrienne Ku. I am taking Shirley Paden’s advice: always use stitch markers to separate your pattern. Really loving the Clover XS Triangle Stitch markers for sock knitting. They are just the right size not to wobble around and the triangle shape means they don’t appear to create move space between stitches.

The shawl-knitting urge has passed, but with the sock knitting remnants, I’m thinking about a colorwork cowl.

Toupie spent the entire day—with his usual resettling moves and a few ventures to the food bowl and box—in bed yesterday. Got up this morning and ate an entire can of cat food. I gave him a hard look this morning. Does sleeping burn that many calories?

Sun-dappled paws

 

Sleeping Puss

 

 

On My Soapbox

Slightly frustrating week. Working on a database for my sister, cut into my knitting time. I’m usually not bothered by the weather, but the rain from Wednesday finally got on my nerves by Friday night. It was like living with a nature sounds tape in continuous loop. I found myself wishing for the silence of snow. I stayed in yesterday. My umbrellas thanked me. 

Vote for the Loopy Ewe
This is cool: Intuit is running a contest to give a small business a chance to place for a Super Bowl advert. The Loopy Ewe has entered. How wonderful it would be to see a yarn store advert amongst the beer, car, computer, and chip adverts.  Vote for the Loopy Ewe here

 

The Helen Skirt Update

Yesterday I finally joined The Helen Skirt in the round. This is really a very nice, well-written pattern.

 

Love Yarn Day
October 11 was International Love Yarn day. I celebrated by taking advantage of Vogue Knitting’s pattern sale. I bought Shirley Paden’s Fitted Jacket, which is the first garment, featured on her website. Speaking of Shirley Paden, she returned to Looped Yarn Works last weekend. I attended the Friday evening workshop where we worked on the rib and smocking stitches using the pattern on the cuff of the Duster pattern on the front of her book, Knitwear Design Workshop. On Saturday, I attended the Lace Knitting class. Just like the takeaways from the Cast-On class in February, I am now confident that my lace knitting will improve as I apply the skills and knowledge gained.

Knit Pro Karbonz

A couple of weeks ago I purchased a Knit Pro Karbonz needle. I have finally found a knitting needle worthy of buying as a set. The needles are light in the hand, the yarn moves easily, and the cable is great.

Knit Edge Magazine—the only knit magazine I buy and read the articles before getting lost in the patterns—had a fascinating article on the origins of From the Mountain yarn company and how the yarn is sourced and providing livelihoods in Afghanistan. As well as an article on the mad vilification of former Australian Prime Minster Julia Guillard for being “a knitter”.

 
Some Thoughts About Knitting
Yes, in most of the West, knitting is seen as “women’s work” and historically, especially in the 19^th century seen as a way for women to “respectably” earn money. Those who are not involved in the craft see it as part of the post 9/11 nesting phenomena or some post-hippie, redefined feminist, anti-commercial, anti-cookie cutter fashion movement. While these arguments may have some validity, I think there is another impetus at work: The Internet.

As I have said in posts before, I have seen my knitting skills improve by leaps and bounds with the advent of blogs, Ravelry, You Tube, and most recently Craftsy. The Internet has removed the barriers to the transmission of skills, creativity, and materials. The resources in a knitter’s community have easily expanded from the knowledge and skills available in the guild, the class, and the local yarn store. Even language is no longer the barrier it once was. Individuals, sometimes without monetary compensation, translate patterns. There are groups and individuals on and off Ravelry supporting those knitting patterns in Japanese. The list of regional knitting techniques and traditions now available on the Internet is legion—Estonian, Peruvian, Turkish, just to name a few.

Why has knitting spread beyond the knitting nana or those with a family history or a chance encounter sparking an enthusiasm with the craft knitting? I argue that it is fun to create. The fun includes the work, meeting the challenge of commitment to completion, learning new skills, being a member of community where skills, achievements, and like in any community, life experience is shared. Knitting is not like building a miniature railroad or cabinetry, it’s an easily portable craft. You can knit on public transport, in the grocery queue, the doctor’s office and even in a darkened movie theatre.

Knitting is not mindless. You need to be able count, add, subtract, divide and multiply your stitches to create patterns and shape a garment. Unlike sewing where you are imposing a form on a fabric, in knitting you are creating and shaping a fabric. Could be why so many knitwear designers in the last 20 years have backgrounds and often graduate degrees in math-dependent sciences.

Lastly, there is the product. Yes, you can invite your family and friends over to view your model railroad, your sideboard etc. But knitting allows you to give: to family, to friends, to complete strangers. Thousands of hats, gaiters, and socks have been knitted for soldiers deployed to Afghanistan and Iraq; hats, prayer shawls and other items for hospital nurseries, cancer patients; hats, scarves, and blankets for the homeless. Fiber craft has been employed at N Street Village to help homeless and abused women earn income, gain self-esteem and entrepreneurial skills and is helping prisoners.

Just think how different the ongoing acrimony over the US government shutdown would be if Boehner needed Obama’s help with the intricacies of entrelac?

Back to The Blog

Where has the summer gone? For me it’s lost in a fog of work. I didn’t realize it was over until a week ago when it was brought to my attention that this weekend was Labor Day weekend. Could have sworn there was another week in there…somewhere.

I did stay on for three days in San Antonio to visit with Val, Tony and Courtney. I did visit the Alamo and highly recommend the PBS documentary although the John Wayne film is fun. I did visit the Yarnbarn of San Antonio and bought some Lone Star Arts Yarn, which I had been coveting. San Antonio was hot, but it’s a dry heat and nowhere near as oppressive as heat with humidity.

My birthday came and went as the BOD meeting started the day after. But I did scurry away in the evening to Looped Yarn Works. Their stock is expanding (YAY) with delicious selections of Habu and Harrisville yarns among others. Below is my birthday present to myself.

 

About the current issue of Pompom Magazine: It was really nice to see a UK knitting magazine feature a woman of color model.

Despite the press of work, I did manage to get some knitting done. I completed a Pi Shawl using Dragonfly Fibers Squishy Lace. The yarn is squishy but has lots of body and doesn’t split. The colours are rich and saturated. The shawl is more of a mini-pi. I should have used larger needles.

I knit Nougat by Susanna IC using Berroco’s Ultra Alpaca Fine. This yarn is loosely plied requiring a dull pointed needle to avoid splitting. With such loose plies, I was a little worried—needlessly as it turned out--about stitch definition. It is soft and bouncy with a generous 473yds at around US$11.00 per skein. I liked it so much I bought two more skeins—in the photo above—to knit another Liz Lovick’s Cowls pattern in fingering weight. By the way, Liz has a book coming out: The Magic of Shetland Lace Knitting. I can’t wait.

With the remaining Ultra Alpaca Fine, I’m knitting the Bonbons fingerless gloves. Both will compliment the Odessa beret knit last winter.

On the needles is a pair of socks to be finished and the Lengthwise Cable Scarf from Knit Picks Wool of the Andes in the Caution Colorway. I have 700 yards of the yarn and should have enough left over for a hat and maybe some fingerless mitts. These should compliment a rather drab olive wool jacket.

After deliberating most of the spring, I finally bought a tablet, the Google Nexus 7. It has renewed my addiction to Tetris. But it is great for downloading .pdf’s of patterns and using those instead of paper to knit from. Besides Tetris I have downloaded a few knitting apps and a Georgette Heyer novel to read. Odd thing is, Toupie doesn’t like the Nexus and settling down to read in bed a night becomes a tussle as he continually tries to paw the device.

Toupie was well behaved while I was on my travels. No pictures of freaked-out kitty on FB. No attacking the pictures on the wall or his auntie who kindly consented to mind him for two weeks. He did push his food bowl to different parts of the apartment each day (he’s never done that when I am at home) and there was one renegade incident of ripping open treat bags. I did have the vacuum treats in every part of the apartment including the bathroom.

 

A summer highlight was the opening of Each Peach Market. Really good artisan breads, out of the ordinary sandwich meats (as well as really good sandwiches) and a selection of fresh fruits and veggies and their own spice mixtures. The staff is friendly and knowledgeable making this a must shop stop.

Cast-On Class with Shirley Paden

One of the big frustrations of 2012 for me was each time Shirley Paden came town to teach, I was on travel. So as I blogged before, when I saw the announcement at Looped, I paid for my purchases, caught the bus, arrived back at my desk, enrolled and paid for the Cast On Class in under 10 minutes. 

Had the most wonderful experience yesterday. We covered 18 cast ons in the four hours. I learned a lot; have a lot to practice and a lot to put into practice. I am more than a little graphically impaired (someday I will post on the blog the story of what happen when a mall I frequented several times a week changed their signage from the word Restroom to the Male and Female symbols used in airports) so drawings and pictures are many times incomprehensible or very difficult for me to understand. The most valuable take ways from this class, besides the practice and explanations of the best uses for the different cast ons, was having the memory of what the hands and yarn are supposed to be doing and being able to relate that to the drawings in the workbook. The other lovely thing about the class was being taught by someone knowledgeable and experienced means that there are ancillary bits of information relayed, like about the importance, size and what your swatch tells you besides the stitch and row gauge, that are spontaneously given. 

Having been a trainer, there were little things that I appreciated. Although the students were given a list of materials, Shirley came prepared with yarn, needles, hooks, scissors, and highlighters (which were really useful) just in case. She used a bulky weight yarn in easy to see colors for her demonstrations and she always elicited and encouraged not only feedback, but constantly reminded us that we were doing a lot of these cast ons for the first time. I always used to say in my software training classes that it was more important to remember that you can do something then to remember the exact steps to do it. At one point, I was unable to get my yarn and needles in the correct position for long-tailed cast on. After several frustrating attempts, I had to stop, breathe, and take the advice of a fellow student. 

I instinctively knew from Shirley’s design alongs in her Ravelry group that she was a generous person. My opinion was borne out in her teaching style, the way she helped individuals, and the way she took time at the end of class to chat to each of us. I didn’t sign up for the other sessions because I didn’t think I was skilled enough. That is a mistake I won’t make again. I might not know enough about finishing or design, but next time I have an opportunity to take a class or classes from Shirley Paden, I’m signing up for them all.

Shirley is teaching a design class on Craftsy, which is currently on sale. Of course, I’m enrolled. 

Just a word about Looped Yarn Works: I have had the fortunate of experience (which I’ve learned is not true of all knitters) of always having helpful and kind owners and staff in local yarn stores. But Looped Yarn Works staff and management are exceptional. They have been able to expand their space adding a lovely, functional, bright and comfortable training room. I love the fact that they carry yarns from local crafts people like Wandering Wool. And although Looped has been open for about a year and half, the shop has gone from strength to strength in yarn selection, their podcasts and the expansion of their class offerings with the new space. They also contribute yarn, support, and advertise community charity opportunities. If you are local to Looped, watch their website for an April class on Knitting and Meditation. The instructor is a friend and I highly recommend you consider enrolling in this class. You won’t be disappointed.

Wednesday, I was naughty or What a difference three inches makes

Finished the first of the mitered gloves last night. Using 8" size 5 dpns was slowing down my knitting, so yesterday on my way to meet some peeps for lunch, I did two things:

1. Cashed in my change, which netted a cool 105.35
2. Went to Looped Yarn Works for 6" #5 dpns; 24" #9 and #10 circular needles and to hopefully find a mohair yarn for cowl.

Now this was easy because the bank is on one side of the street and Looped is on the other side. :)

I looked at the sale table (always my undoing at Looped) touched one yarn and walked away. Found one skein of Rowan Kidsilk Haze in a wheat yellow colour. Wandered to the front room, turned right and there was Rowan Creative Focus in Golden Heather. A little history, I've moved this particular yarn in and out of my Webs basket over the past two weeks. As of 11:15 yesterday, it was out of my basket; and I had dismissed it on the premise that I don't need more yarn. It's gorgeous. It's a soft wool and alpaca blend and the color is amazing next to my skin. I scooped up one skein and headed to get my needles. I also bought a copy of Interweave Crochet Winter 2011 which I am still digesting.

Went off to meet the peeps for lunch. It really is so nice to have friends that you can be completely yourself with, who are as interested in you and your life as you are in them and their lives. We can be bitchy, supportive, get angry for and with, laugh with and at each other never disturbing that deep current of love and respect that we have for each other. Because there was a bit of to and frowing about where we were going to eat--we almost always end up at the same place--we decided before leaving Nicola's to have our next lunch at Grillfish on January 26.

I have been eating at Nicola's for about seven years, mostly eating the buffet which at $11.00 including beverage and a pasta dish, is really one of the best bargains in town. But yesterday was cold and blustery and I wanted something warm. I tried the Fusili Luciana. OMG, what have I been missing for seven years. Al dente roti with sundried tomatoes, shrimp and a sprinkling of fresh arugula in a marscapone and white wine sauce.

What a difference three inches makes! I was easily able to whip through and finish the first mitered mitten last night. Have cast on for the second mitered mitten. Saturday morning will be devoted to doing EZ's thumb trick. Oh yeah and btw, after arriving home and petting Toupie, I logged on to Webs and bought 7 skeins of the Rowan Creative Focus in the Golden Heather colourway.

During my week of knitting, I've been tidying (in a rather uninspired way), cooking, playing with Toupie, and watching a few series on Netflix. I rewatched Ken Burns's Jazz series. It still hasn't infused me with an appreciation of jazz after circa 1940. It still seems to me that the conversation that is jazz started to speak a foreign language that I can't understand.

Sock KAL

Toupie foraging in the plants.

I've started my sock, from the toe up. I tried and failed (again) to do Judy's Magic Cast-on. Even watching three You Tube videos demonstrating the technique didn't help my success. So I just did a provision cast on (the Hyacinth coloured yarn at the top of the toe) and soldiered on. By the time the increases for the toe were finished, I'd learned to read my knitting so that I knew without using a coiless saftey pin to mark the increase rows.

I read a customer review on the 62 Degrees North website about the comfort and beauty of socks knitted with their yarn. So my goal is to master sock knitting and making a pair with Faroe Island yarn from 62 Degrees North.

Coiless Safety Pins: I first learned about this from EZ and bought a package when I saw it in the tools section at Looped Yarn Works. I'd previously been using the Knit Picks plastic safety pin markers, but those do have a tendency to break. The nice thing about the Coiless pins is they are metal, thin, and because of they are silver they don't fade into the yarn. They aren't as bulky as the plastic markers and they don't break if you accidently squeeze them too hard.

I am still working on the Nomad Hat and Scarf. I really need to pay more attention to ribbing instructions. I always seem to do k1p1 when I should be doing k2p2 and vice versa. So instead of k1p1 on the scarf, I did k2p2. I thought about frogging and bagged the idea. Changing to the larger sized needles (US10.5) is making the work go a bit faster.

We had another wintry mix event today. I don't do ice or freezing rain so that day was a cat-filled telework day for me. The problem with telework is I am so comfortable, can control the background noise (no wafting co-worker convos about weekend concerts etc.,) that I just beaver away for more hours than if I were in the office. I was so done in by 5:15 this evening, that I had a nap before putting in another hour. My only interruptions were Toupie demanding cuddles.

I am knitting the Cabled Hat (#7 in Vogue Knitting Winter 2010/11). I haven't used straight needles in so long, it was a little awkward when I was knitting the swatch. I am using Knit Picks Andean Silk in the Cinnamon colourway (this colourway has been discontinued).

There is a hiccup, or either I didn't understand, in the instructions for the back panel of the hat. A response to my post in the Vogue Knitting Forum on Ravelry soon put me on the right track. I am now working on the front panel, but got no knitting done last night, as I sat down to read Vogue Knitting Winter 1986, and fell promptly asleep in the chair.

Interesting that the current issue of Vogue Knitting and Vogue Knitting Winter 1986 feature patterns by Deborah Newton. And there is similarity in construction as both require straight and dpns or circular needles and both patterns have cables.

I bought the Vogue Knitting 1986 for the cabled coat pattern by Cornelia Tuttle Hamilton. I am struck by what a more substantive magazine Vogue Knitting was in the 80's, and again by that which put me off the magazine in the 80's--small sizes (not much to knit over a 40" bust and 27" waist).

I went to Looped Yarn Works to buy a size 7 circular needle for the hat. I've been buying mostly Knit Picks needles, but since the price rise on needles + shipping; it is more cost effective to purchase other fixed circular's. I do like using KP's interchangeables, but their 16" cable + the tips makes a 24" needle which is just a tad too long when you only need a 16" needle.

I did see the Blue Heron yarn with the silver included. OH MY is that yarn scrumptious to look at and wonderful on the hand. I need/want some desperately. When I checked my email last night, guess what yarns are going to be featured in a trunk show on January 29: Blue Heron Yarns. Yes, it's time to eat Ramen noodles to save money for yarn. I'm imaging a scrumptious cowl thingy in a copper and peach colourway.

I returned to work yesterday. Good grief. Tons to do; lots of changes--people leaving and coming. Getting back in gear is proving harder than I thought. Commuting is such a nightmare. If I had further to go, I could understand it. But an hour and twenty-minutes to go four miles just because a scheduled bus didn't show is bordering on ridiculous...especially as I can walk to work in forty-five minutes.

The knitting group at work is gearing up again, so I am taking my Caron Simply Soft mittens to work on. I've made tortellini in alfredo sauce and Rebecca is bringing me some of her Thai green bean and pomello salad.

This begins day 32 of being soda-free.