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 Found My Sock

Over the winter, I once again made attempts at sock knitting. Finally using Wendy's instructions, I ended up with a very sock-looking bit of knitting....only to lose it.

I recalled several days after realizing that it was missing, that I'd been knitting the sock in bed. A search of futon, night table, under the futon...nil. I looked with great suspicion upon Toupie. Had he made off with it in the middle of the night? A search of drawers, under dressers, the four-drawer cabinet where I stash most of my yarn turned up nothing. I was morose. More for the loss of the Harmony circulars than for the knitting or the yarn. Finally a few weeks ago, I resigned myself that the project was lost. Maybe in the trash; maybe it fell out of my bag at work or on the bus.

This afternoon I was cleaning the top of the small art deco cabinet where I keep my hat, gloves, shawls, and scarves in winter and hats in summer and voila! the missing sock. I instantly understood what I had done. The top of this cabinet is also the traditional storage space for my purse and I often collect items that I am going to take with me in the morning on this cabinet. The sock was under a linen jacket that I've been stalling on taking for dry cleaning. I feel reunited.

I've started the Diamonds and Chevon shawl by Susan Palmer. I may isolate the repeat rows to make the project more portable but it's coming along nicely.

Sock it to me or Houston We Have a Heel

It ain't perfect and it sure ain't pretty but it's a heel.

I understand the process now. I need a lot more practice before I can strive for perfection. But it's a heel and right now that's all I care about!!!

The pattern can be found here if you are on Ravelry.