socks – Page 10 – Behind the Smile

September 4, 2008June 24, 2010

Occasionally I finish things

Pattern: Spey Valley from Nancy Bush’s Knitting on the Road
Yarn: Plymouth Happy Feet, I don’t recall the color
Mods: I did my own heel, shortened the leg and used a standard French (?) toe.
Time to knit: FOR-FREAKIN’-EVER.

Turned out nice, they’re pretty comfy. It was the wrong yarn to use for this pattern, a plain color would have shown the very nice pattern on the leg, which is lost in this variegated yarn. Still, I’m pleased with them.

Meanwhile, I’m working on the following:

On the left are Malvina’s birthday socks, the eponymous Embossed Leaves socks in a sassy orange from Cherry Tree Hill. Then, in Tofutsies, is the Undulating Rib. Both these socks are in the Interweave Favorite Socks book.

I don’t know if I like working with the Cherry Tree Hill, it has a weird texture. But, the color is great, and let’s face it, I’m happy enough to be working with Red Heart, so whatever. I quite like the Tofutsies; I’m glad I have another sock (and another skein, courtesy of the Momma) to work on – the fabric is nice. I forget what chitin is (ground up sea slugs or something) but I like it.

From here on out, it’s pretty much going to be Christmas related projects, which I am totally going to blog about because that’s how I roll. I just won’t say who they’re for, hah. I think I’ll be trying out some fingerless mitt patterns, and hat time for sure. I owe Sam a hat for his birthday (since he lost another one I made him) and there will be some weaving projects for Christmas as well. The project I am currently working on is going well – I really got better tension this time around, so practice really does make perfect.

August 2, 2008June 24, 2010

Magic Loopin’

Just dropping by to announce that I haven’t fallen off the face of the earth in terms of blogging. I have just been… not inclined. Or distracted, or busy, or whatever.

Last weekend we were in Redding for my cousin’s wedding. I forgot to bring any knitting, so when we were at Sew What! (a funny quilting/knitting hybrid shop) I bought some Panda Wool (bamboo/wool/nylon mix) and a 40″ US2 circular, looked up magic loop on my laptop (free wireless at the motel) and taught myself magic loop:

I am not super enamored of it for socks (DPNs 4eva!), but the possibilities of its use for sweater sleeves, hat decreases, etc., are pretty great. I look forward to using it on top-down sweater sleeves, where DPNs are kind of a pain.

I really like the Panda Wool, it has a nice drapey quality to it.

***

I went and saw the Dark Knight last night, and was VERY BORED by it. It is NOT the second coming of superhero movies, it was basically boring in every way, rather masogynistic (only main female character gets burnt to a crisp and the only other female character who even talks turns out to be owned by the mob) and way too long. Props to Christian Bale, Michael Caine, Gary Oldman, and Heath Ledger, though: they turned in top notch performances. And Aaron Eckhart was hot as usual, even with half his face melted off.

Still, I was way more excited about the crappy preview trailers for the new Terminator movie and the Watchmen movie coming out next year than I was about the Dark Knight.

So, go watch it if you’re inclined, but I thought it was boring.

June 28, 2008June 24, 2010

A Week In the Life

I have been run ragged this week, and it’s not over yet! OY VEY.

Last Monday was the last day I was just at home with nothing to do. Oh, Monday, you were great. Tuesday I had a large homeowner’s meeting to record minutes for, Wednesday I had another board meeting to record minutes for, and Thursday I had a Chamber of Commerce mixer, and Friday I went out with my cousin to the movies. So I kind of haven’t been home in forever. Today I am off to Sacramento for a birthday party and tomorrow I am going with the fam to Placerville and a flower farm.

Luckily, next week is a short work week and I don’t have any meetings. Friday is the 4th of July and Saturday is my birthday. I’m hoping that the smoke from the 800 fires dissipates because I REALLY WANT to go peddle boating for my birthday out at the Lafayette Reservoir. However, we are being told to stay inside and not go out and breathe all the smoke. I can understand this – yesterday I was out in Brentwood on a site inspection, and was horking up snot and ash for an hour afterwards. It was still fun, though, Phil and I went off-roading in his golf cart up on the hill, where I hadn’t been before, to survey the goat damage.

So, my cousin Amanda and I went to see Wanted, starring the fawn from Chronicles of Narnia and Angelina Jolie. It was totally not what I was expecting, but it still really great. Completely violent and excessive, which I have really been in the mood for. Earlier this week I got Shoot ‘Em Up from Netflix and THAT is an AWESOME movie, if you haven’t seen it and you enjoy a spot of violence and Clive Owen killing a bunch of people while running around holding a baby, then that is the movie for you! However, not for the faint of heart, so if you are easily bothered by gore and lactating prostitutes (hi google searchers!) then you should probably avoid Shoot ‘Em Up. I loved it a lot however and watched it twice, it was that good.

/end gushing

So I haven’t completely just done nothing. I got a couple boxes in the mail this week. I purchased Norah Gaughan Volume 3 and a couple of the new pattern pamphlets from Berroco and those came quite promptly.
I also finally got my box of stuff I bought in Texas, which had more yarn and all those beads in it. AND I was bad and ordered from the Loopy Ewe.

And I am working on a sock in Araucania Nature Multy:

And a swallowtail shawl:

I’m knitting this shawl in the Daffodil colorway of some Rio de la Plata sock yarn. I really like the yarn, it’s got a great rustic feel to it, and as you can see, the stitch definition is tops. I’m having fun diving into the stash and trying out the different yarns I have. I’m hoping to finish this shawl in time for my cousin’s wedding. Not that I am going to wear a wool shawl to a summer wedding in REDDING but it’s a timeline goal anyway.

Now I am off to the post office to mail a check and my Netflix (Talledega Nights, which was funny but stupid) and get gas, drop off some stuff at the library, and go to Target.

Later taters.