Sunday, December 9, 2007
Instant Gratification Socks II: Progress Report 3
Wendy Johnson of Wendy Knits is a certifiable genius. That's my opinion, anyway. Wendy designed the Fingering Weight Toe-up Socks with a Gusset Heel on which the IGSII is based. It is simple to make, fits very well, is endlessly adaptable, accessible to beginners, quick, and the last gusset heel toe-up sock pattern I'll ever need. See for yourself.
Instant Gratification Socks II: Progress Report 2
I took the GC to a birthday party at the local skating rink yesterday morning. Since I Don't Play Well With Others I brought my own amusements (IGSII) and sat off in a corner booth away from the other parents.
It wasn't long before I noticed an intelligent pair of eyes staring at me over the back of the booth. I invited the eyes to come sit with me. A young lady of about ten was attached to the eyes. She was quite taken with the socks I was knitting. Once she determined that I wasn't going to do her harm with my pointy sticks (probably something she heard from the other parents, I got weird looks from them) and that I was willing to answer questions, she settled in and asked away. After a time, peer pressure set in and she went off to skate, but I noticed she looked wistfully at my socks each time she rounded the rink.
Soon, another young lady of about twelve, this one with beautiful curly hair, sat down and asked me what I was concocting. I told her I was making socks. She eyed me suspiciously, edged away a bit on the seat and asked me, "For a human foot?" I kid you not, that's exactly what she said. I assured her that the sock would indeed fit a human foot. I demonstrated by putting it over her fingers like a mitten. Her eyes went from narrow with suspicion to wide with wonder. She smiled and showered me with a barrage of questions. She was clearly disappointed when I told her I would not be finished with the sock before we left. She wanted to see it on a "human foot."
During this time Intelligent Eyes returned and stayed, while several other party-goers dropped in for a look. I was getting evil stares from the knot of parents who clearly could not understand why the kids were more interested in an odd, anti-social woman with her old-fashioned craft than the lights and music of the rink or the table full of junk food and bags of party favors. To be honest, this surprised me too.
I wish I had brought along my knitting bag rather than just my sock project. I would have loved to have let those girls knit a few rows just to see what it was like. Who knows, perhaps I planted the seed for two new fiber artists. I hope so.
Here's what sparked so much interest:
It wasn't long before I noticed an intelligent pair of eyes staring at me over the back of the booth. I invited the eyes to come sit with me. A young lady of about ten was attached to the eyes. She was quite taken with the socks I was knitting. Once she determined that I wasn't going to do her harm with my pointy sticks (probably something she heard from the other parents, I got weird looks from them) and that I was willing to answer questions, she settled in and asked away. After a time, peer pressure set in and she went off to skate, but I noticed she looked wistfully at my socks each time she rounded the rink.
Soon, another young lady of about twelve, this one with beautiful curly hair, sat down and asked me what I was concocting. I told her I was making socks. She eyed me suspiciously, edged away a bit on the seat and asked me, "For a human foot?" I kid you not, that's exactly what she said. I assured her that the sock would indeed fit a human foot. I demonstrated by putting it over her fingers like a mitten. Her eyes went from narrow with suspicion to wide with wonder. She smiled and showered me with a barrage of questions. She was clearly disappointed when I told her I would not be finished with the sock before we left. She wanted to see it on a "human foot."
During this time Intelligent Eyes returned and stayed, while several other party-goers dropped in for a look. I was getting evil stares from the knot of parents who clearly could not understand why the kids were more interested in an odd, anti-social woman with her old-fashioned craft than the lights and music of the rink or the table full of junk food and bags of party favors. To be honest, this surprised me too.
I wish I had brought along my knitting bag rather than just my sock project. I would have loved to have let those girls knit a few rows just to see what it was like. Who knows, perhaps I planted the seed for two new fiber artists. I hope so.
Here's what sparked so much interest:
Friday, December 7, 2007
Instant Gratification Socks II: Progress Report 1
Well, well, well, I've made it through another week. I've had scarcely any time to knit, which I think contributes greatly to my generally sullen mood. I worked out of town one day and got home late, had a school holiday performance one evening, and moonlighted (moonlit?) on two evenings.
This has, however, given me plenty of time to meditate on Wendy's heel instructions and I'm pleased to say I've got my brain around them and am excited to knit them up. I always feel better when I can visualize what a pattern is saying before I actually execute the instructions. Unfortunately, I'm moonlighting again tonight, so it must wait until tomorrow after errands.
I haven't even touched Sober Argyle. Here's what I've gotten done on the Instant Gratification Socks II. I absolutely love this colorway and check out the pattern! Isn't that cool?!
This has, however, given me plenty of time to meditate on Wendy's heel instructions and I'm pleased to say I've got my brain around them and am excited to knit them up. I always feel better when I can visualize what a pattern is saying before I actually execute the instructions. Unfortunately, I'm moonlighting again tonight, so it must wait until tomorrow after errands.
I haven't even touched Sober Argyle. Here's what I've gotten done on the Instant Gratification Socks II. I absolutely love this colorway and check out the pattern! Isn't that cool?!
Sunday, December 2, 2007
The Dog
It occurred to me yesterday morning that I have not given The Dog equal billing on the blog. Coincidentally, Mom mentioned that very thing later in the day.
She (The Dog) is very sweet, not at all interested in yarn, and only contributes minimal amounts of additional fiber to my projects. So, without further ado The Dog gets her own post.
She (The Dog) is very sweet, not at all interested in yarn, and only contributes minimal amounts of additional fiber to my projects. So, without further ado The Dog gets her own post.
Instant Gratification Socks II
Based on what I learned from my first pair of socks, I've decided to try a toe-up sock with a gusset heel. I'm using Judy Becker's Magic Cast-on with 24 sts (12 x 12) and then following Wendy's instructions for toe-up socks with a gusset heel that promises no stitches to pick-up. I have to admit, reading the pattern, I'm totally confused as to how this is going to work.
As I'm sure you've begun to suspect, I'm afraid of turned heels. Now, I did sucessfully execute a Sherman Short Row Heel, but I still get the willies when I think about it. I'm not sure why I even attempted the SSRH. It's not like "knit encroachment" and "purl encroachment" are less offensive than "wrap and turn" and all of the other turned-heel vulgarities.
I have high hopes for this pattern.
As I'm sure you've begun to suspect, I'm afraid of turned heels. Now, I did sucessfully execute a Sherman Short Row Heel, but I still get the willies when I think about it. I'm not sure why I even attempted the SSRH. It's not like "knit encroachment" and "purl encroachment" are less offensive than "wrap and turn" and all of the other turned-heel vulgarities.
I have high hopes for this pattern.
Sober Argyle Vest II
The needles arrived on Friday and I settled in last night to cast on for round two of Sober Argyle. Not much of a start, but it is a start.
Instant Gratification Socks: Progress Report 3
They're finished. I'm not altogether happy with them, but the GC is pleased.
I've learned that I need to use a smaller needle with that particular yarn and that I have gauge issues between sock 1 and sock 2. (Read: one sock is smaller than the other.) On the whole, though, not bad for a first-ever pair of socks.
I've learned that I need to use a smaller needle with that particular yarn and that I have gauge issues between sock 1 and sock 2. (Read: one sock is smaller than the other.) On the whole, though, not bad for a first-ever pair of socks.
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