Woe is I

I’m going to cry. Well, maybe I’m not going to cry, but I feel like I’m going to cry. I’m having one of those spells where it feels like the world is coming to an end, but it’s not…really.

Oldest Son told me last night that he was considering moving out to the west coast to live with Youngest Son. This should have made me happy, that my two boys would be together. But, noooooo, what did I do? I’ll tell you what I did: I had a meltdown. You know, one of those shrill voice meltdowns. One of those, I’m driving to the store right now for pipe tobacco even though I haven’t smoked for three months meltdowns. I felt as though I was being abandoned. Gawd knows why. Oldest Son lives 1100 miles away from me. It’s not like I’m going to see him any less. Besides, he calls me like clockwork.

Then I had an interview this afternoon for a job I really, REALLY want and I totally blew the interview. Actually, the secretary that scheduled the interview told me I was interviewing for the job I really want. I though I was interviewing for the job I really want. I prepared to interview for the job I really want. But, in reality, I interviewed for another job I had applied for. It was surreal. They were asking all kinds of questions that didn’t make sense and in an attempt to tie them into the job I thought I was applying for all of my answers must have sounded like non sequiturs. About half way into the interview I figured out what was going on, but it was too late to implement damage control. The looks on the faces of the interview panel were clear, “her credentials look great, but she needs a flower pot because she’s a blooming idiot.” All I can say is I’m glad it’s over.

And my cell phone died.

And I got a parking ticket.

Thank gawd for knitting. And vanilla rum.

General Progress

Yesterday I knit! I cancelled all chores and laundry, too. I was tired, so I knit slowly, but I knit!

I worked a little bit on the H234 socks.



I worked a little bit on the Sober Argyle vest.



I haven't touched the Arrrgyle Socks.

I also received patterns for my Twizé. I had attempted to get two free patterns from Webs with my yarn purchase, but they were non-cooperative. However, the very nice people at SWTC accommodated me and mailed the patterns. I now have a pattern for Twizé Tank Top:



And for Greta:



I’m definitely making the Twizé tank, but I’m also toying with the idea of making the pinwheel sweater (pattern from elann.com):



My winter vacation begins on Thursday and I can’t wait. Monday through Wednesday will be busy at work. Thursday and Friday will be busy getting ready for the trip. I have a two day drive to Mom & Dad’s. Oh, how I wish I could knit and drive. I’m hoping to get some serious knitting done while visiting. Maybe even visit some of the local yarns stores.

Hypotheses 2-3-4 Socks

With this pair I’m testing hypotheses 2, 3, and 4 to determine if they can be included in the Unified Sock Theory, hence the name. I will also be adding eye of partridge stitch to the heel flap, just to see how it turns out.

Hardware: 2 – U.S. 1 ½ (2mm) Knit Picks Options 24” Nickel Plated Fixed Circular Needles

Software: 1 – 50gm ball Knit Picks Essential in Lily Pad Multi

Code Snippets:

Judy Becker’s Magic Cast-on

Wendy Johnson’s Fingering Weight Toe-up Socks with Gusset Heel

Eye of Partridge stitch (instructions and chart by Persnickety Knitter)

Invisible Cast-off for Single Rib (excellent tutorial by crankygrrrrrl)

After I finished IGS2 on Wednesday, I started fooling around with a rounder toe for the socks. I came up with one that looks rather nice lying on the kitchen island, but leaves something to be desired on the foot. I decided to try the “elf toe” with sixteen stitches instead of twelve and see what happens.

Thursday evening I cast on two socks at once, from the same skein no less. Not a big deal, one just needs to remember to uncross the yarn every other turn.

Friday night I moonlighted again: no knitting. :( I’m also moonlighting this afternoon and evening. :(:(

I’m using another Knit Picks Essential sock yarn and again the colors are lovely. The texture is very soft. I’m looking forward to seeing the pattern develop.

Unified Sock Theory

I am going to strive to come up with the Perfect Sock Pattern.*

With two pairs of socks completed, what have I learned?

• Toe-up construction is my preferred method
• 2 circular needles beat DPNs hands down
• U.S. 1 ½ (2.5mm) needles are perfect for Knit Picks Essential sock yarn
• Judy Becker’s Magic Cast-on rocks
• Wendy Johnson’s Toe-up Gusset Heel sock pattern rocks
• Elizabeth Zimmermanns’s Sewn Cast-off works, but I’m not thrilled about it
• I'd like a rounder toe for my socks
• The way the heel and toe mess up the pattern makes me sad
• Making the sock with one piece of yarn makes me happy
• Knitting the second sock is anticlimactic
  

Hypotheses to test:

1. A turned heel that won’t drive me crazy exists or can be developed for contrast color heels so I won't have to be sad about pattern distortion.
2. A method to make a rounder toe exists or can be developed so I won't have to listen to the GC say that my socks have "elf toes."
3. A cast-off method that makes me as happy as Magic Cast-on exists or can be developed so I won't have to look at perfect socks with less than perfect cast-offs.
4. Knitting two socks at once will be a more satisfying experience so I won't have second sock syndrome.

*Perfect for me, of course. Your results may vary.

Knit Picks Essential Sock Yarn: Software Review

I have now knit two pairs of socks with Knit Picks Essential sock yarn in two colorways: Meadow Multi and Peacock Multi. I love the colorways and the patterns they create.

The weight of the yarn was very even. I do not like knobby or bumpy yarns and Essential was consistent through the entire skein. The yarn was fairly soft while knitting, maybe just a teeny bit scratchy, but super-soft after washing. There was slight fuzzing after the first wash, but no significant pilling.

This yarn is incredibly durable. Look at the tail below. It was used to cast off the second sock. It went through each stitch twice on a tapestry needle and looks completely unscathed. Not to mention that it was liberally mouthed by Cat No. 2. By the way, that's all that was left of the skein after I made IGS2. Twelve and three-quarters inches, how cool is that?

I’ll have to come back and update this after the socks have been washed and worn a few times, but at this point I’m satisfied overall. I’d have to say a very good value for the money.

Instant Gratification Socks II: Progress Report 4

Ta Done! These turned out so much better the IGS1. For starters, they are the same size!

Blog Envy...I'm Over It

As much as I hate to admit it, I'm suffering from blog envy. As I read the various blogs I've stumbled across in my adventures, I find myself wondering about the HTML as much as the showcased projects. I'd really like to have a three-column blog...time to modify the stock template. Gee, I like that color combination...wonder what the hex color values are. So many cool features and ideas out there. I guess I'm going to have to start reading the code as well as the blog and then sit down and fix this thing to my satisfaction. Perhaps it is because I've supplemented my income building Websites that I feel kind of inadequate using the stock template. But, hey, wait a minute. This is a knitting blog, not part of my portfolio. It's about what I knit, not how I code. It's for my enjoyment, not my income. To hell with it! I'm going to go knit.